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Flores was born in Laredo to Eloy Garcia, Sr. (1923–1998), a businessman, and the former Bonnie Lopez (1919–2012), originally a beautician.<ref name=blgobit>Bonnie L. Lopez obituary, ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' February 18, 2012.</ref> Betty Flores was reared in the "Heights" neighborhood of mid Laredo. One of her neighbors was Mayor [[J. C. Martin, Jr.]], known as Pepe Martin, who served from 1954 to 1978, whom she says taught her loyalty from a young age. Her father was for many years a member of the elected Laredo College board of trustees and a philanthropist who gave generously to the institution, which named a building after him. Eloy Garcia gave Betty her first dollar when she was a little girl and her first campaign check when she decided to run for mayor. He lived barely long enough to see her elected. He went to cast his vote in an ambulance refusing to vote at the hospital. Eloy and Bonnie Garcia were in partnership with their children in the E. G. Ranch Partnership. Her mother donated the land for what became the Bonnie L. Garcia Elementary School in the United Independent School District in Laredo.<ref name=blgobit/>​

Flores was born in Laredo to Eloy Garcia, Sr. (1923–1998), a businessman, and the former Bonnie Lopez (1919–2012), originally a beautician.<ref name=blgobit>Bonnie L. Lopez obituary, ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' February 18, 2012.</ref> Betty Flores was reared in the "Heights" neighborhood of mid Laredo. One of her neighbors was Mayor [[J. C. Martin, Jr.]], known as Pepe Martin, who served from 1954 to 1978, whom she says taught her loyalty from a young age. Her father was for many years a member of the elected Laredo College board of trustees and a philanthropist who gave generously to the institution, which named a building after him. Eloy Garcia gave Betty her first dollar when she was a little girl and her first campaign check when she decided to run for mayor. He lived barely long enough to see her elected. He went to cast his vote in an ambulance refusing to vote at the hospital. Eloy and Bonnie Garcia were in partnership with their children in the E. G. Ranch Partnership. Her mother donated the land for what became the Bonnie L. Garcia Elementary School in the United Independent School District in Laredo.<ref name=blgobit/>​

In 1962, Betty Garcia married Antonio "Toño" Flores,<ref name=foxdegrees/> a son of the late Daniel Flores, Sr., and Simona Alicia Flores. His older brother, Dan Flores, Jr. (c. 1937-2016), was a [[United States Army]] second lieutenant who served two tours in the [[Vietnam War]] and thereafter was named the chief financial officer at Laredo College, from which he retired in 2009 under the presidency of [[Juan L. Maldonado|Juan Leandro Maldonado]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtonline.com/obituaries/article_a73b952a-0e30-11e6-aeef-334b6b1efc9a.html|title=Daniel Flores, Jr.|date=April 29, 2016|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=May 2, 2016}}</ref>​

In 1962, Betty Garcia married Antonio "Toño" Flores,<ref name=foxdegrees/> a son of the late Daniel Flores, Sr., and Simona Alicia Flores. His older brother, Dan Flores, Jr. (c. 1937–2016), was a [[United States Army]] second lieutenant who served two tours in the [[Vietnam War]] and thereafter was named the chief financial officer at Laredo College, from which he retired in 2009 under the presidency of [[Juan L. Maldonado|Juan Leandro Maldonado]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtonline.com/obituaries/article_a73b952a-0e30-11e6-aeef-334b6b1efc9a.html|title=Daniel Flores, Jr.|date=April 29, 2016|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=May 2, 2016}}</ref>​

Toño and Betty Flores resided for many years in South Laredo and later moved to the then new neighborhood of Del Mar where they still maintain their residence. Their son, Antonio Flores, Jr., was killed by a drunk driver after stopping to help a friend in need. Their daughter, Cristina, is the former wife of Juan Guevara; their  grandson is Antonio Flores Guevara. Betty Flores has five siblings: Eloy Garcia, Jr., Elsa Bonnie Jasso,  Efrain Garcia, Edna Garcia, and Edgar Garcia.<ref name=blgobit/>​

Toño and Betty Flores resided for many years in South Laredo and later moved to the then new neighborhood of Del Mar where they still maintain their residence. Their son, Antonio Flores, Jr., was killed by a drunk driver after stopping to help a friend in need. Their daughter, Cristina, is the former wife of Juan Guevara; their  grandson is Antonio Flores Guevara. Betty Flores has five siblings: Eloy Garcia, Jr., Elsa Bonnie Jasso,  Efrain Garcia, Edna Garcia, and Edgar Garcia.<ref name=blgobit/>​

Flores did not graduate with her 1962 class at Martin High School because she left the school after being told she could not longer hold any position in school clubs after her marriage. She returned and finished her pending two credits at J. W. Nixon High School. She did not attend college but worked for the Union National Bank and then the Laredo National Bank, later Compass Bank) having begun as a secretary. She eventually became the first woman senior vice president of the bank and was affiliated with the institution for twenty-eight years. Upon leaving the office of mayor, she served on the board of the Farm Credit Bank of Texas.<ref name=foxdegrees>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxdegreesofsuccess.com/success/laredos-first-lady-careers-without-college/|title=Betty Flores Became Mayor of Laredo, Texas, without a College Degree|publisher=foxdegreesofsuccess.com|date=February 2, 2011|accessdate=October 16, 2019}}</ref> "I've worked with men all my life. I was always the only woman in the room. I never focused on that when I was campaigning," she said in a farewell interview with Julie Daffern, then a staff member of Flores' hometown newspaper, ''The Laredo Morning Times.''

Flores did not graduate with her 1962 class at Martin High School because she left the school after being told she could not longer hold any position in school clubs after her marriage. She returned and finished her pending two credits at J. W. Nixon High School. She did not attend college but worked for the Union National Bank and then the Laredo National Bank, later Compass Bank having begun as a secretary. She eventually became the first woman senior vice president of the bank and was affiliated with the institution for twenty-eight years. Upon leaving the office of mayor, she served on the board of the Farm Credit Bank of Texas.<ref name=foxdegrees>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxdegreesofsuccess.com/success/laredos-first-lady-careers-without-college/|title=Betty Flores Became Mayor of Laredo, Texas, without a College Degree|publisher=foxdegreesofsuccess.com|date=February 2, 2011|accessdate=October 16, 2019}}</ref> "I've worked with men all my life. I was always the only woman in the room. I never focused on that when I was campaigning," she said in a farewell interview with Julie Daffern, then a staff member of Flores' hometown newspaper, ''The Laredo Morning Times.''

==Running for mayor==

==Running for mayor==