Elizabeth “Betty” Ellen MacLachlan, nee Pegues, born in 1923 to Nellie Pegues, nee Kavanaugh, and Samuel A. Pegues in Shreveport, Louisiana, passed away on August 31, 2024 of natural causes.
She received her early education at St. Vincent’s Academy. She attended Louisiana State University, graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry, and then from the University of Texas, gaining a Master’s degree in Electrochemistry. After working for the Monsanto Corporation in Texas City for a few years, she left to pursue a Ph.D in Physical Organic Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While there, she met the love of her life, and fellow student, Alexander MacLachlan. Together they received their Doctorates in 1957 and were married January 25, 1958. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Wilmington, Delaware and started a family.
In addition to being a devoted mother, Betty continued to pursue chemistry. She worked as a consultant for United Parcel Service advising on shipping hazardous materials where she co-wrote a major manual that was used to determine which materials they could safely handle and how to remediate spills.
She also volunteered at the Florence Crittenton Home for Unwed Mothers tutoring young women in math and other subjects.
At home, she managed all the family finances. When the family relocated to Germany in 1974, she even mastered the complex German income tax rules.
While overseas, Betty and her family had many travel adventures, including a fascinating trip to the Soviet Union and a magical ski trip to Switzerland at Christmastime. After retirement, she and her husband continued their love of travel.
She is predeceased by her parents and her older sister Mary Katherine Rich. She is survived by her loving husband Alexander, her children, Katherine M. Parrish (Edgar), Amy E. Piro (Mark), Mary E. MacLachlan, Alexander H. MacLachlan (Annette), nine grandchildren, and three great granddaughters. She remained a lifelong devoted Roman Catholic.
Services honoring her accomplished life will be held at St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine Church with burial in the adjacent cemetery. Services will be private.
In addition to her dear extended family and friends, the family would like to thank the wonderful people at Stonegates Health Center and to the caring Hospice nurses.
“I was the luckiest guy in the world when she agreed to marry me. Sixty-six years married to an angel.” Al MacLachlan
Condolences
Thank You
Your online condolence will appear once approved by our site administrator.