Betty Ruth Caldwell

On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Betty Ruth (Boo) Caldwell entered the gates of heaven.

Visitation will be held at 12:00 p.m. Friday, July 11, at Renew Church in Waco, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Graveside will be Saturday, July 12, at Restland Cemetery in Dallas.

Betty was born on April 16, 1931, in Wichita Falls, Texas to Robert and Thelma Dougherty. Her family moved to Oklahoma City then settled in Dallas, Texas. She had two sisters: Mary Jean and Colleen.

She graduated from North Dallas High School in 1949 and was a member of the National Honor Society, among other clubs. She attended Southern Methodist University, where she pledged Alpha Delta Pi. She also took courses at Brookhaven College and North Texas State University.

It was at SMU that she met Wayne Caldwell. After a year of dating, they married on March 23, 1951. They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary a month before Wayne passed away. After they were married, Betty and Wayne lived in Dallas. Betty went to work for General Electric until Cathy was born. She had three children: Cathy, Sandra, and Michael. Cathy Lynn is married to Joseph Ricchuiti, Sandra Ann is married to Robert Lewis, and Michael Wayne is married to Xiomara Caldwell. She had four amazing grandchildren—Stephen and Jennifer Lewis, and Timothy and Andrew Ricchuiti—and seven great-grandchildren.

Her teen years were spent at Ross Avenue Baptist Church, where she taught 5-year-old Sunday School, sang in the choir, played piano for her mother’s solos, and was also a soloist for the choir. She and Wayne attended Royal Haven Baptist Church, where she taught 6th grade Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was involved in various other activities. They later joined Northway Baptist Church, where she taught women’s Bible studies, served on the women’s board as Program Chairman for the monthly luncheons, and worked alongside Wayne in the youth department. At Northwest Bible Church and Parkway Hills Baptist Church, she served on the Women’s Ministry Team. She was very active in Bible Study Fellowship. She also wrote columns for the church newspapers at Northway and Northwest Bible. She was a very talented writer.

Betty will join Wayne, her mom, dad, and sister, as well as countless friends and relatives who are waiting for her in heaven. She is survived by her daughters, Cathy Ricchuiti (Joseph) and Sandi Lewis (Robert); her son, Michael Caldwell (Xiomara); her grandchildren, Stephen Lewis (Laura), Jennifer Lewis, Timothy Ricchuiti (Angel), and Andrew Ricchuiti (Katy); and seven great-grandchildren.

Betty spent her life raising her children, helping her husband in his business, and pursuing her love of travel, music, and the arts. She was a gracious, caring, and sweet person. She and Wayne had an endearing silliness about them that was contagious. She once said to her daughters, “We came from a long line of pioneering women.” Betty was a strong woman with a strong faith in Jesus Christ. She taught her family to put their faith and trust in God. She lived her life dedicated to her faith and her family. She will be missed by all who knew her—and all who knew her are better off today because they did.

Betty’s family invites you to leave a memory or message in her “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.