Betsy Jane Bingham Klein

Betsy Jane Bingham Klein

1930-2025

By Brooks Adams, April 19, 2025

Betsy Bingham Klein passed gently into the afterlife at about 1 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2025, 15 days following her 94th birthday after fighting pneumonia and Type A flu at Moses Cone Hospital. She was attended by loving family and close friends.

While a confirmed New Yorker, Betsy was raised in rural Southwest Randolph County, NC, alongside the ancient Uhwarrie Mountains and often muddy-red Uhwarrie River. Born Dec. 31, 1930, Betsy was the daughter of William Micajah “Cage” Bingham, a local dairy farmer who was also Randolph Sheriff during WWII, and her beloved mother, Virginia Dare Kearns Bingham.

Betsy’s nephew, Ray White, notes that she was brought up in the Quaker faith and was a birthright Friend belonging to Science Hill Friends Meeting, where her family are interred. She attended Farmer High School graduating in 1949. Harvey Adams, a fellow Farmer alumnus and friend, observed that Betsy was known then for her intelligence, singing abilities and good looks. 

She went on to graduate from Guilford College in 1953 and, subsequently, the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. After school, Betsy moved to New York City and enjoyed stints in music and modeling. She later settled into haute couture working as a top salesperson running trunk shows at retailers such as Neiman Marcus for leading fashion houses including Halston.

On March 19, 1969, in a ceremony that honored their Quaker and Jewish origins, Betsy married David Klein, a prominent graphic artist and commercial illustrator especially known for his TWA travel posters from the 1950s and 1960s. Betsy and David shared a happy life that included extensive foreign travel, a beautiful, antiques and art filled, 1860s brownstone at 281-A Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights, and a lovely modernistic country house with a well-tended flower garden. Together they entertained and enjoyed their respective larger families and friends from all walks of life. Many kitties were also resident in their home. 

Betsy possessed strong character traits and many passions. She was independent, kind and generous. She had definite viewpoints on many things, including politics. Betsy was a lifelong lover of the performing arts, including opera and Broadway theater, cooking and entertaining, good wine, fashion and the New York Times. She was also a great friend and steadfast advocate of animal rights and marginalized communities.

Also of note, confident, hardworking and tough, Betsy didn’t allow curve balls that came her way deter her. After a serious midlife auto accident that left her with chronic, debilitating back pain, she continued with her life as best she could with few complaints. David gave her his full support.

In recent years, Betsy felt fortunate to reside in Greensboro at Friends Home West where she received fine care in Assisted Living. She expressed her fondness and support for her nearby alma mater Guilford College by arranging a significant charitable gift annuity.

Betsy Bingham Klein will be missed. An informal gathering of family and friends to celebrate her life is planned at 12 noon, May 17, 2025, at Science Hill Friends Fellowship Hall, 2421 Lassiter Mill Rd, Asheboro, NC. Refreshments will be served. Feel free to also bring a favorite dish to share. The historic 1894 Meeting House will be open to visit.