Commuting on the Ventura-Santa Barbara 101 Bus
Betsey's friend, Lois Haney, both commuted to work on the Ventura-Santa Barbara 101 bus daily, thankful to have jobs in the early 2000's after 911. Lois worked at a low-paying job for $12.00/hour as a receptionist at Northrup Grumman. She only had an 8th grade education. She was from Iowa, a single Mom with five children, and by the time we commuted together, she was a great-grandmother, walking with a walker, and had previously been an assembly line worker to put food on the table for her children. She was active in her Nazarene Church and retired at 67. Northrup Grumman gave her a Retirement Party as did her friends and family. She lived on a low social security income in retirement and moved to Taft, California where she found government housing. Her green Ford Ranger pick-up truck was paid for and she blessed everyone she met. She was in the Oil Parade in Bakersfield, California, oil country, in her decorated motorized wheel chair.
When she passed away, Betsey had to work, but John attended her funeral at her church and spoke about how she had inspired him. Her family gave her a "Celebration of Lois' Life" funeral, pictures, a life of service to Jesus Christ, family, her church, friends, and her many employers. Hard-working Lois was not union, made only minimum wage, had no job security, no pension, and yet, she gave back to everyone she met, even though she was very, very poor. God Bless Lois who loved America and Country Music!
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