Betty Knowles, 89

BETTY MARTIN KNOWLES PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY APRIL 22, 2014 SURROUNDED BY HER FAMILY AT HOME. BORN ON MARCH 2, 1925, SHE WAS RAISED IN THE RURAL SETTING OF CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA NEAR THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG. SHE ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CAMPBELL COUNTY AND GRADUATED FROM LONGWOOD COLLEGE WITH A TEACHING DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. SHE THEN TAUGHT FOR 5 YEARS IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BEFORE MOVING TO MANASSAS TO CONTINUE HER TEACHING CAREER FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS AT YORKSHIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY.

AS MOST OF HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW, BETTY WAS A “RETIRED TEACHER WHO NEVER RETIRED”. SHE WAS A PAST PRESIDENT OF ALPHA MU CHAPTER OF DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY AND PRINCE WILLIAM RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (BOTH LOCAL AND DISTRICT), AREA REPRESENTATIVE AND SECRETARY FOR THE VIRGINIA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, AND SERVED ON COUNTLESS COMMITTEES ON BOTH COUNTY AND STATE LEVELS. 

MOST OF ALL, SHE WAS VERY COMMITTED TO GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. OVER THE YEARS SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL, CHAIRED OR CO-CHAIRED VARIOUS COMMITTEES, WORKED AS A VOLUNTEER IN THE CHURCH OFFICE, ACTIVE IN ALPHA CIRCLE, AND BAKED BREAD FOR MONTHLY COMMUNION. SHE WILL BE SORELY MISSED, BUT ALWAYS REMEMBERED BY HER CHURCH FAMILY.

BETTY ALSO FOUND TIME TO SERVE AS A SAFE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR FOR AARP, CHAPLAIN FOR THE LADIES’ AUXILARY VFW POST 7589, AND TREASURER OF THE MANASSAS WOMEN’S CLUB.

BETTY IS SURVIVED BY HER HUSBAND OF 34 YEARS RON KNOWLES; SON ROBERT SHELL AND WIFE ILDIKO OF MINERAL, VA; STEPSON CLARK KNOWLES,WIFE GAIL, AND STEPGRANDDAUGHTER GRACE OF PORTSMOUTH, N.H.; STEPDAUGHTER AMY KNOWLES OF WARREN OH; BROTHER RICHARD MARTIN AND WIFE PATRICIA OF GAINESVILLE, FL; NIECE KATHERINE GOBIE AND HUSBAND GERALD OF MANASSAS, VA; NIECE KAY CASH AND HUSBAND RONALD OF LYNCHBURG, VA; NIECE ALICE RAY FOSTER AND HUSBAND EDWARD OF LYNCHBURG, VA; NIECE CATHY TYREE AND HUSBAND LARRY OF LYNCHBURG, VA; NEPHEW JOHN MARTIN AND WIFE MARY OF CHESAPEAKE, VA; NEPHEW KENNETH MARTIN OF UPPER MARLBORO, MD; NIECE KIMBERLY MARTIN OF WASHINGTON, D.C.; NIECE JENNIFER WILLIAMS AND HUSBAND DENNIS OF WOODBRIDGE, VA; AND NIECE DEBORAH MARTIN OF DEERFIELD BEACH, FL

THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS FROM 10:00 TO 11:30 A.M. ON FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH AT GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN MANASSAS, VA. THE FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT THE CHURCH AT 11:30 FOLLOWED BY A CELEBRATION OF BETTY’S LIFE IN THE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL. INTERNMENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT QUANTICO NATIONAL CEMETARY ON TUESDAY, APRIL 29TH. AT 2:00 P.M.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, THE FAMILY SUGGESTS THAT EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY IN MEMORY OF BETTY BE DIRECTED TO GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 9750 WELLINGTON ROAD, MANASSAS, VIRGINIA 20110.