Born in December 1921, the same year that the family home was built by her father, Betty Suzanne Bohner Cashin lived almost her entire life in San Benito. After graduating from San Benito High School, she attended community college in Brownsville, spent her sophomore year at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and finished her education at the University of Texas with a BA in English.
While at UT, she interviewed with Braniff Airlines and was hired as a hostess for the airline. She remained with Braniff for 10 years. She was chief hostess in the 1940’s when Braniff expanded their DC-6 service to South America.
During her time at Braniff, she was able to take several months’ leave to travel to Europe as a Travel Shipper for the Christian Science Monitor, and traveled in Ireland, England, France and Switzerland.
Returning to Braniff, she met and married Robert Cashin, a former member of the diplomatic service then working in Dallas in Public Relations. The couple moved to University Park, Missouri, outside of St. Louis, and their daughter Catherine Jane Cashin was born there. Betty and Bob divorced after six years of marriage, and Betty returned to San Benito with her daughter.
Betty began a new career teaching in the San Benito schools, and was asked to return to the University to get a degree in Library Science. She did, and became the librarian at San Benito Junior High School, and later at San Benito High School until her retirement.
One of the joys of her life was her miniature collection, which started with the doll house (also built by her father, Frost Bohner). She enjoyed putting together miniature furniture, rugs, and decorations into realistic vignettes, and then sharing them with anyone who showed an interest.
Betty’s kindness towards others was her trademark quality. In everything she did, she considered the feelings and well-being of everyone around her. Her daughter Cathy Cashin Walter and son-in-law Jim Walter, of Kingsville, Maryland, are blessed to have shared their life with her.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. at Thomae Funeral Home, 701 North Bowie, San Benito.
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Mrs. Cashin was the best liabrian. So sweet, encouraging us to read and very helpful. She was a beautiful woman both in and out. So sorry Cathy for your loss. No wonder you were so smart in school. All that reading. It was a pleasure to know her.