Georgiana Elizabeth Maas Geiler

Georgiana Elizabeth Maas Geiler born February 22, 1912 died August 21, 2007. Bettie was born on February 22, 1912 in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were Professor Arthur Maas and Jessie Maas. Professor Maas was a professor in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California.

In 1930 she graduated from Los Angeles High School where she met many of her life long friends. Then she headed for the University of Southern California. She was elected Miss Business of the College of Commerce & Business Administration. She was also president of her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. She won a beauty contest whose title was “Miss World Trade”.

While at USC she met Raymond Lee Geiler who was a teacher in the School of Dentistry and had been a student of her father’s in the USC School of Pharmacy. She graduated from the College of Commerce & Business Administration in 1934. They were married on August 3, 1934 and moved to South Gate, California to live. They moved to San Marino, California in 1950 where the children attended school. In 1971 they moved to Newport Beach. They were a loving and devoted couple until Ray’s passing in 1999.

Before starting a family in 1939 she worked in retail sales at Robinson’s Department Store. She continued to be active at USC: Bettie was the president of the USC Half Century Club. She and Ray were also life members of Cardinal and Gold, the Associates, and the Scholarship Club. They were also members of the Town and Gown and the Trojan Club. She was co-chairman with the actor, Robert Young, of the first USC Parent Giving Program. They donated a laboratory and a class room to the USC School of Pharmacy They also endowed a scholarship at the USC School of Music. She was an active volunteer and contributor to the Hoag Hospital

She loved to dance and she and Ray were members of various square dancing groups and a dinner-dance group named Ala Roma.

She was active in church affairs and was a deacon of her church

She loved golf and they were members of San Gabriel County Club and Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach. She had four holes-in-one.

Bettie loved to travel. The travel began as family auto trips to the Grand Canyon and other local tourist spots. They expanded to excursions all over the world by car, bus, horseback, balloon, plane, ship, barge and foot. They traveled to the Orient before jet airplane travel existed and visited the Arctic Circle.

Ray and Bettie had three children, Richard Geiler, Dennis Geiler and Gretchen Porter. The family moved to San Marino, California in 1950 where the children graduated from high school. All three children attended USC and obtained a combined 5 different degrees. She enjoyed 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Ray and Bettie moved to Newport Beach in 1971 where they became active in Big Canyon Country Club and where she played on the Women’s teams and won many tournaments. She had 4 holes in one.

Bettie is survived by her children; Richared M. Geiler, Dennis L. Geiler and Gretchen B. Porter, 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Her infectious smile and friendly manner will be missed by her family and friends.