Betty Grissom
1927–2018 (age 91)
Biography
Betty Grissom, the steadfast partner of astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom, became a visible champion for the families of America's earliest space explorers. She pressed NASA and the nation to honor the sacrifices of those pioneers while keeping her husband's ideals alive through public appearances, advocacy, and quiet counsel to generations of space workers.
Her tireless work helped preserve the stories of the Mercury era and inspired support networks for the families of those who served above and beyond. Today she rests among the nation's honored dead at Arlington National Cemetery, her life remembered for loyalty, resilience, and dignity.