Elizabeth "Betty" Patchin Greene
Elizabeth "Betty" Patchin Greene
November 19, 1912 - April 2, 2003
Elizabeth "Betty" Patchin Greene passed away on April 2nd at the age of 90. A resident of Carmel since 1962, she and her husband of 70 years, Thomas Gordon Greene, lived in the converted studio of Greene & Greene architect Charles S. Greene, his father. Besides being a devoted housewife, Mrs. Greene was known as a talented freelance writer. Her articles appeared in a number of publications including the "Monterey Herald", "Aramco World", and "Architectural Digest". She was also involved in various charitable activities, including volunteer work as a Nurse's Aid during World War II and later as a member of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America, chairing the Society's History Scholarship Program and a restoration project for the Boronda Adobe in Salinas. Born in Peking, China, November 19, 1912, Mrs. Greene grew up in Burlingame, California, and attended schools in London, California and Washington, D.C., where she graduated from Gunston Hall School, founded by her grandparents.
She and her husband, a WWII Pacific Naval officer who later became an international oil company executive and an architect, lived for many years in Europe and the Middle East. She was the daughter of Mary and Philip Halsey Patchin, a foreign correspondent who later served as an official of the U.S. State Department and as a director and vice president of Standard Oil Company of California. On her mother's side, she was a descendant of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, on which the U.S. Bill of Rights is based. Mrs. Greene is survived by her husband, her daughter-in-law Gail (Mrs. Philip) Greene of San Francisco, two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She will be lovingly remembered for her graciousness and charm as well as for her keen insight and sense of humor. At her request no services will be held. The Paul Mortuary will handle the arrangements. The family requests that any memorial contributions be given to the donor's favorite charity.