Betty Claire (Wiggins) Kelley

Betty Claire (Wiggins) Kelley of 8405 Clearvista Pl, Indianapolis, IN died at 10:18 am Tuesday, September, 12, 2023.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee on July 2, 1923, Betty was the daughter of Carl Marvin Wiggins, Sr. and Clyde Edith Paschall.  She grew up in Memphis and graduated from Central High School.  For four years Betty worked in public relations in the Passenger Department for Southern Railway Company in Washington, D.C. where, at age 19, she was their first and youngest female employee. Betty wed Robert Grove Kelley in Washington D.C. in April, 1947 and after a while they moved to Independence, MO where their son, Fred Wiggins Kelley, was born.  The Kelley family settled in Indianapolis, IN in the mid-1950’s where Betty and Bob designed and built their home, and where Betty lived for more than 60 years. In her final years Betty resided in a number of Indianapolis senior care and health care facilities including Robin Run Village and Clearvista Lake Health Campus.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son (each mentioned above), and four siblings: Ernestine Carter of Memphis, TN and Tupelo, MS; Carl Marvin Wiggins, Jr. of Beaumont, TX; Robert William Wiggins of Chicago, IL and Lacrosse, WS; and James Edward Wiggins of Houston, TX. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and their children many of whom, along with local friends, neighbors and care givers, recently helped celebrate her 100^th birthday. 

Burial will be a private ceremony at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis.