Betty Vollmer Dykins, 100 and exactly six months, passed away on May 29th, surrounded by family. She was born on November 29th, 1920, in Williamsport, PA, to Nellie and L. Clyde Vollmer and was the youngest of five daughters. She graduated with a BS in Home Economics from Mansfield State Teachers College (now known as Mansfield University) in Mansfield, PA, in 1942. In Betty’s words, her life was first a wife, second a mother, and third a homemaker. She married Robert C. Dykins on January 9th, 1943, shortly after he was commissioned as an officer and gentleman in the US Navy. They moved to Glastonbury in 1958, making their home on Shipman Drive and later on Sunset Drive. Betty and Robert celebrated 62 years of devoted matrimony until his death in 2005. In 1947 she started gardening. Gardening blossomed into garden clubs, flower arranging, judging, state garden club board and flourished into master judge and arranging for weddings. Betty was well known throughout Glastonbury for her gardening. She joined the Glastonbury Garden Club in 1963 and currently holds the title for longest membership in the club’s history. Her contributions and accomplishments surrounding gardening include life member of the Federated Garden Club of CT, life member of the National Garden Club, a nationally accredited Emeritus Judge, three-time Chairman of the Harford Flower show, and Chairman of the New England Regional Symposium. Fellow garden club members complimented Betty as the ultimate advisor and mentor. The honors and awards she received throughout her life are superior.
Betty had a myriad of talents, all of which she performed up until her death. She was a watercolor painter, multimedia floral designer, master gardener, incredible cook and hostess, and seamstress extraordinaire. She left her family with many homemade treasures, from award-winning paintings to framed arrangements, cultivated plants, and closets filled with clothes.
Betty is predeceased by her parents, L. Clyde and Nellie Vollmer, her sisters, Dorothy, Phyllis, Helen, Jane, and her beloved husband, Robert. She is survived by her four children, John V. Dykins (Cindy) of Salida, CO, C. Frederick Dykins of Glastonbury, Katharine L. Dykins of East Windsor, and Robert N. Dykins (Stacie) of South Glastonbury. She leaves her cherished grandchildren, Amanda Coffey, Karyn Morgan, Madison, Brooklyn, and Myles Dykins, two great-grandchildren, Nellie and Harry Coffey, and many nephews, nieces, and grandnephews, and nieces.
She moved to Covenant Village in Cromwell in 2009, where she lived independently up until her death. This past November, she celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her entire family. Betty will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 11th, 2021, at 11 am at South Congregational Church, 949 Main Street, South Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Glastonbury Garden Club Virginia Hayden Scholarship Fund in care of Gloria Graham, 130 Hurlburt Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, or the Benevolent Care of Covenant Living mailed to Covenant Living, 52 Missionary Road Attn: Benevolent Fund, Cromwell, CT 06416. To extend condolences, please visit Farleysullivan.com.