Elizabeth “Betty” Loraine Giles, a cherished community figure, passed away at the age of 99 on October 1, 2025. Born on June 28, 1926, in Pasadena, California, she was the daughter of Myrtle and Langley Goodman. Betty’s early years were spent in Altadena, where she attended local schools including Luther Burbank Elementary, Eliot Junior High, and PJC High School.
Betty pursued higher education at the University of Southern California (USC), where she met her future husband, Charles Giles. During her time at USC, she was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, which played a significant role in her social life. The couple later settled in Arcadia, California, where they raised three daughters over a span of 60 years.
Her passions included sewing, needlework, and travel, but her dedication to community service was particularly noteworthy. Betty volunteered extensively for the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and the Girl Scouts. Additionally, she contributed her time to the Arcadia Assistance League-Las Alas Auxiliary, the Pasadena Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae Chapter, and the San Gabriel Valley Alumnae Panhellenic Association.
Betty’s family legacy is continued by her daughters, Justine Giles and Leslie Anderson, and her son-in-law, Michael Arcadi. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Giles, and her daughter, Alison Arcadi. Betty is also survived by five grandchildren: James Arcadi (married to Allison), Breanna LaDoucer (married to William), Joseph Arcadi (married to Tiffany), Christopher Anderson (married to Jacqueline), and Alyssa Boyd (married to Nathaniel). She leaves behind eight great-grandchildren: Dominic, Clare, and Simeon Arcadi; Norah LaDoucer; Lilly and Corban Boyd; Aspen Arcadi; and Brynn Anderson.
A family service is scheduled at Live Oak Memorial Park on November 24, 2025. Following the service, an open reception will take place at Westminster Gardens Retirement Community in Packard Hall, located at 1420 Santo Domingo Avenue, Duarte, California.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Betty’s honor to the Church of the Transfiguration in Arcadia, the Westminster Gardens Benevolence Fund in Duarte, or the American Red Cross. Betty Giles will be remembered not only for her contributions to her family but also for her unwavering commitment to her community.
