Betty Ruth Allen

An 80 year resident of Santa Cruz County, Betty Allen left us peacefully on May 10, 2022, at her home, at the age of 84, due to complications from a cerebrovascular accident. Betty was born in Virgilia, California, to Marvin and Eunice Humbird. She was the second of three daughters. The family relocated to Watsonville in the early 1940s, following the end of Great Depression and the culmination of the Second World War. Betty attended Radcliff Elementary School, EA Hall Middle School and graduated from Watsonville High School in 1956. She graduated from Monterey Peninsula College with honors and exceled in business studies while still managing time to be the Lobo’s Homecoming Queen.

Betty began her real estate career in 1959 as an escrow officer with Penniman Title Company in Watsonville. She obtained her Notary Public license in 1961. She obtained her real estate license in 1966 when she became a sales associate with Hansen Real Estate. In 1970 she obtained her broker’s license and opened Key Realty, Inc., one of the first woman owned real estate businesses in the Pajaro Valley. She found pride in helping lifelong clients acquire their first homes and investment properties. Betty also had fond memories of operating the elegant Brennan House Restaurant with her friends and family. She was married to Charles “Chuck” B. Allen from 1972 to 1982.

She found her home in the Corralitos Valley. When she “retired” from full time real estate, she and a group of her neighbors, along with local historian, Florence R. Wycoff, and longtime business owner, Joe Cutler, founded the Corralitos Valley Research and Educational Association.  Betty served as President of the organization for many years. During her time of leadership, the group performed numerous fundraisers, wrote numerous grant requests, and the results were legacy projects such as the Aldridge Lane Park, Corralitos Cultural Center and the Corralitos Library. Betty organized and managed the popular Corralitos Festival of Lights for over 15 years. She organized and co-authored the book “Cooking on the Fault Line: Corralitos Style”. When not working, she enjoyed gardening, reading, antique hunting and, “all the creatures, great and small”.

Betty had a fondness in her heart for the game of baseball, whether watching her grandsons or the San Francisco Giants. Her family will never forget being on the field of AT&T Park with her for Lincecum’s no-hitter. Up until her final days, Betty and her sister would watch the Giants games from their homes and call each other on the phone between innings to share the “torture”.

Betty’s family affectionately referred to her as “Bootsie”. She was preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Eunice Humbird, her sister, Sharon Elizabeth Alaga, her nephew, John P. Alaga, Jr. and her brother-in-law, Nathan Sorensen. She is survived by her sister, Billie Sorensen, her son, Steven Allen, and daughter-in-law, Amanda Allen. Her beloved grandchildren: Sophia Allen, Gavin Allen and Derek Allen. Her niece Cindy Bettencourt (Justin) and nephews, David Alaga (Rebecca) and Mark Sorensen (Laura).

The family would like to acknowledge the care Betty received from Maximilian Home Health Care and Dominican Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the Dominican Hospital Foundation as so they can carry on their essential services here in Santa Cruz County.

A private burial is planned at the Pajaro Valley Memorial Park in Watsonville.