Betty Wyckoff Shotton

Betty Wyckoff Shotton, 97, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 12th at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg, Virginia. She was the beloved wife of her late husband of 60 years, Dr. Donald Shotton.

Mrs. Shotton was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Essie Elizabeth Hand and Willis Burl Wyckoff, and spent her childhood in Winter Park, Florida. At 18, she and her best friend, Sally Wing, left Winter Park and headed to Charlottesville, VA to join the U.S. Nurse’s Cadet Corps at the University of Virginia. It was there that she met her future husband, Donald Shotton, who was in medical school. They were married in the fall of 1945 and Dr. Shotton left for Japan as part of the Army of Occupation. When he returned, they spent a year in Washington, D.C. (Walter Reed Hospital), a year in Charlottesville, VA (UVA Hospital), two years in Boston (New England Medical Center- now Brigham and Women’s) and finally settled in Lynchburg where Dr. Shotton joined the practice of Dr. Ernest Scott.

Mrs. Shotton received her RN from the University of Virginia in 1946 and later returned to college, studying at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and Lynchburg College where she received her BA in Foreign Languages. Her post-graduate studies included the Institut d’Etudes Francaises de Touraine in Tours, France, ADIF in Lyon, France and summer French intensives at Millersville University in Pennsylvania.

She taught foreign languages in the Lynchburg Public Schools and retired as a beloved French teacher at James River Day School. For her entire life she was often greeted by former students in a perfect French accent: “Bonjour Madame Shotton, Comment allez-vous!”

She was a longtime member and President of the Alliance Francaise of Lynchburg, a member of First Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, Regent of The Poplar Forest Chapter of the D.A.R., President of The Oakwood Garden Club, President of The Junior Woman’s Club of Lynchburg, a member of The Opera of The James Guild, the Jefferson Choral Society, and the Wyckoff Family Foundation.

She is survived by her four children: Donald Shotton, Jr., of Kitty Hawk, NC, Jean Shotton Stone (Richard) of Lynchburg, VA, Betty Lewis Shotton (Chris Hyland) of Black Mountain, NC, and Lynne Shotton Reed (William) of Walpole, NH. She is also survived by two grandchildren: Sarah Reed Shotton , of Raleigh, NC, and Charles Carroll Shotton, of Wilmington, NC., three step-grandchildren: William W. Reed, III (Sarah) of Landgrove, VT, Andrew M. Reed (Carmen), of Manchester, VT, and Aslan Hyland of Wake Forest, NC ,four step-great-grandchildren: Hannah Reed, Ellery Reed, Sadie Reed, and Ruby Reed. She leaves two sisters: Maxine Wyckoff Collier of Gainesville, FL and Mary Wyckoff Bailey of Lake Mary, FL, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, a grandson Baby Boy Stone, her brother, Robert Wyckoff, her sisters Vivian Wyckoff Blessing, and Beverly Wyckoff DuBois.

Betty was a good friend to many and cherished her time with them. She was curious and enthusiastic about life and traveled all over the world. She was fierce in her love for family and with her husband instilled in her children strong moral values, the importance of service to others, responsibility, self-worth, and love. She had an strong, vibrant personality, along with a sense of fun and adventure that will always be remembered and carried within the hearts of her family and all who knew her.

A private family burial will be held next week with a Celebration of Life planned for the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to Westminster Canterbury and First Presbyterian Church.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.