Betty-Jane Fannon, 88, Former Actress and Wilton Resident

Betty-Jane Fannon, 88, died on April 24, 2012 at Palm Meadows Court on Hilton Head Island following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. ‘BJ’ was a long time former resident of Wilton and is the mother of current resident. BJ and her twin sister Geneva were born in Ogden, Utah, on April 2, 1924, to Eva Lee and Judge Eugene Elliott Pratt.

After growing up in Utah, her father’s responsibilities took the family to Washington, D.C. where during World War II she worked at the Pentagon with the O.S.S.  At war’s end she moved with her sister to NYC to attend Barnard College.

She began her long love of theater while at Barnard, where she and her sister starred in the College production of Arsenic and Old Lace. 

After graduation she took a position at J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency as a television time buyer during the infancy of the television industry.

She met her husband, Jim, on a blind date. They were married on March 17, 1951 and five years later moved to Wilton, CT where they their raised their children, Douglas, Laura and Elizabeth.

She performed in numerous stage productions throughout southern Connecticut and became President of the Wilton Playshop community theatre in 1979.  Her passion for acting led to commercial and television work.

BJ and Jim lived in Wilton for 31 years where BJ worked as a real estate agent before she and Jim retired to Hilton Head Island, SC.  On Hilton Head, BJ continued her love of theater by performing in productions at the Hilton Head Playhouse on Dunnigan’s Alley. She became a founding member of the South Carolina Reparatory Company, was involved with the AAUW, and volunteered at the Coastal Discovery Museum and Arts Center.  She and Jim were members of the Country Club of Hilton Head for 24 years.

BJ is predeceased by her brother Elliott Lee Pratt and survived by twin sister, Geneva Armstrong of Sanford, FL. She is also survived by her husband Jim Fannon of Hilton Head Island, her son Douglas Fannon and his wife Brenda of Guilford, CT, and daughters Laura Ploss and husband Richard of Wilton, CT and Elizabeth Petroskey and husband Michael of Groton, MA.  She is also survived by six grandchildren: Alejandra, Sean, Sarah, James, Katherine and Thomas.

The family will be receiving friends from 1pm – 2pm followed by a service on Saturday April 29, 2012 at the Island Funeral Home, 4 Cardinal Rd., Hilton Head Island, SC .

In lieu of flowers, donations in BJ’s name can be made to Memory Matters, 117 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 or , P.O. Box 363, Wilton, CT  06897.