Elizabeth
Elizabeth (Betsy) Owen
d. October 17, 2017
Elizabeth “Betsy” Goode Owen died peacefully on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg.
Betsy was born June 11, 1925 in San Francisco, the only child of Helen Beckler Goode and Colonel Paul Ryan Goode (US Army). She spent her childhood in several states, wherever her father’s postings took the family; she attended Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., and received her B.A. from Oregon State University. She met her husband, Earl Tracy Owen, in Hawaii during one of Col. Goode’s postings after WWII, where Betsy worked for an airline company and Earl was an Army flight surgeon. Betsy was approached on the beach one day by the young captain and invited to play on his volleyball team. She never revealed whether the team won, but Earl and Betsy were married several months later in San Francisco, on June 9, 1949. During Earl’s surgical residency they lived in Huntington, W. Va., where Betsy also taught elementary school. After the birth of their first two children, they moved to Earl’s hometown of Lynchburg, where he began a surgical practice and where they welcomed three more children. Betsy and Earl raised their family and spent the rest of their marriage in Lynchburg, until Earl’s death in March of 1995. Betsy then made her home at 3000 Rivermont Apartments (the Owen family’s former home site) for several years prior to moving to Westminster-Canterbury.
When not busy tending to five children, Betsy was an active participant in Lynchburg life. She was a longtime member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where she served on the altar guild. When her children were older she took graduate English courses, and subsequently taught English at Seven Hills School for several years; at different times she also worked in clothing and bookstore retail positions. As well, she was a member of various civic and volunteer groups, among them the Junior League of Lynchburg, the Hillside Garden Club, and several book clubs.
Betsy had a number of favorite pastimes beyond her role as a doctor’s wife and loving mother of five. Her childhood love of painting intensified and flourished in adulthood; she eventually studied and painted under several teachers, becoming an accomplished artist. She produced many landscapes, still-lifes and portraits for family, friends, and area collectors, and some of her works received local and regional awards. As well, she valued the camaraderie that she found among her fellow artists and art enthusiasts.
Betsy also enjoyed her garden, having acquired a love of flowers early on from her mother. She equally loved books, being a voracious reader who regularly borrowed as many library books as possible, a habit lasting until her last few months. Along with the arts of any kind, her other favorite diversions included cooking, whether for one, a family, or a crowd; she also enjoyed playing bridge and tennis, traveling, dancing, and (often to her children’s exasperation) going shopping. Above all, Betsy loved making friends and sharing time with others; she treasured her friendships both new and old, as well as those within her extended family.
She is survived by her five children: Molly Marrow and husband Jim of Tarboro, N.C.; Mandy Owen and husband Mark Pellerin of Royal Oak, Md.; Liza May and husband Jeff of Lynchburg; Julia Baker and husband Philip of Forest, Va.; and Paul Owen of Raleigh, N.C.. Also surviving her are eight grandchildren: Helen Marrow and husband Mike Redd; Owen Marrow; John Paul and Tracy Pellerin; Abby and Ben May; and Marsh and Marjorie Baker; as well as four great-grandchildren; George, Virginia and James Redd; and Johnny O’Briant. Many loving nieces and nephews and their extended families additionally survive her.
Betsy’s family is grateful for the loving care and support shown by the caregivers, nurses and staff of Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 21 at 11 a.m. at Westminster-Canterbury, 501 VES Road, Lynchburg; the family will welcome friends afterwards in the Hume Room. Memorials may be sent to St John’s Episcopal Church, 200 Boston Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503, or to The Awareness Garden Foundation, P.O. Box 3231, Lynchburg, VA 24503. To further honor Betsy’s memory, notice the beauty around you, and cherish your family and friends.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
Betsy was born June 11, 1925 in San Francisco, the only child of Helen Beckler Goode and Colonel Paul Ryan Goode (US Army). She spent her childhood in several states, wherever her father’s postings took the family; she attended Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., and received her B.A. from Oregon State University. She met her husband, Earl Tracy Owen, in Hawaii during one of Col. Goode’s postings after WWII, where Betsy worked for an airline company and Earl was an Army flight surgeon. Betsy was approached on the beach one day by the young captain and invited to play on his volleyball team. She never revealed whether the team won, but Earl and Betsy were married several months later in San Francisco, on June 9, 1949. During Earl’s surgical residency they lived in Huntington, W. Va., where Betsy also taught elementary school. After the birth of their first two children, they moved to Earl’s hometown of Lynchburg, where he began a surgical practice and where they welcomed three more children. Betsy and Earl raised their family and spent the rest of their marriage in Lynchburg, until Earl’s death in March of 1995. Betsy then made her home at 3000 Rivermont Apartments (the Owen family’s former home site) for several years prior to moving to Westminster-Canterbury.
When not busy tending to five children, Betsy was an active participant in Lynchburg life. She was a longtime member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where she served on the altar guild. When her children were older she took graduate English courses, and subsequently taught English at Seven Hills School for several years; at different times she also worked in clothing and bookstore retail positions. As well, she was a member of various civic and volunteer groups, among them the Junior League of Lynchburg, the Hillside Garden Club, and several book clubs.
Betsy had a number of favorite pastimes beyond her role as a doctor’s wife and loving mother of five. Her childhood love of painting intensified and flourished in adulthood; she eventually studied and painted under several teachers, becoming an accomplished artist. She produced many landscapes, still-lifes and portraits for family, friends, and area collectors, and some of her works received local and regional awards. As well, she valued the camaraderie that she found among her fellow artists and art enthusiasts.
Betsy also enjoyed her garden, having acquired a love of flowers early on from her mother. She equally loved books, being a voracious reader who regularly borrowed as many library books as possible, a habit lasting until her last few months. Along with the arts of any kind, her other favorite diversions included cooking, whether for one, a family, or a crowd; she also enjoyed playing bridge and tennis, traveling, dancing, and (often to her children’s exasperation) going shopping. Above all, Betsy loved making friends and sharing time with others; she treasured her friendships both new and old, as well as those within her extended family.
She is survived by her five children: Molly Marrow and husband Jim of Tarboro, N.C.; Mandy Owen and husband Mark Pellerin of Royal Oak, Md.; Liza May and husband Jeff of Lynchburg; Julia Baker and husband Philip of Forest, Va.; and Paul Owen of Raleigh, N.C.. Also surviving her are eight grandchildren: Helen Marrow and husband Mike Redd; Owen Marrow; John Paul and Tracy Pellerin; Abby and Ben May; and Marsh and Marjorie Baker; as well as four great-grandchildren; George, Virginia and James Redd; and Johnny O’Briant. Many loving nieces and nephews and their extended families additionally survive her.
Betsy’s family is grateful for the loving care and support shown by the caregivers, nurses and staff of Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 21 at 11 a.m. at Westminster-Canterbury, 501 VES Road, Lynchburg; the family will welcome friends afterwards in the Hume Room. Memorials may be sent to St John’s Episcopal Church, 200 Boston Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503, or to The Awareness Garden Foundation, P.O. Box 3231, Lynchburg, VA 24503. To further honor Betsy’s memory, notice the beauty around you, and cherish your family and friends.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth (Betsy) Owen, please visit our flower store.
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