Helen Elizabeth Baird "Betty" Meese

Helen Elizabeth Baird "Betty" Meese, 85, of Charleston, South Carolina, wife of David W. Meese, Sr. entered into eternal rest Tuesday, November 2, 2022. 

Betty was born August 5, 1937 in White Plains, New York, the daughter of Robert Baird, Sr. and Helen Hubbard Baird, and spent most of her life as a resident of Baltimore. Following graduation from Washington College in 1959 with a degree in chemistry, she joined the chemistry laboratory of Johns Hopkins Hospital to conduct research on pharmaceuticals. Later, with a growing interest in the potential of computers in research generally, she applied to IBM Corporation for a position they were offering as a program systems engineer. Following acceptance, she became one of the first women to fill such a role at that firm and went on to undertake projects around the country as the industry transitioned from punched card technology to what we have today. Her business career ultimately spanned three decades but, after becoming a mother in 1970, she served mostly part-time. Being a mother was the career that gave her the most fulfillment and satisfaction.

Betty was widely admired as selfless, cheerful, kind and generous. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter and grandmother. She contributed care and effort to the communities in which she lived. 

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, David W. Meese, Sr., of Charleston; son, David Meese, Jr. and his wife, Leigh, of Myrtle Beach, SC; grandsons: Robert Meese and his wife Caroline, and Allen Meese; and her brother, Stewart Baird of Petaluma, CA. 

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.

A memorial service will be held at Govans Presbyterian Church, 5828 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212 on Saturday, December 3 at 11:00am.