Betty Katherine Wimer Vanfossen

BETTY W. VANFOSSEN STAUNTON, VA…             Betty Katherine Wimer VanFossen, 88, wife of Calvin Lewis “Louie” VanFossen, of 188 Vista Lane, passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at her residence.             She was born on April 23, 1928, in Blue Grass, Highland County, a daughter of the late Reid Braxton and Dessie Katherine Bennett Wimer.             A lifelong member of Second Presbyterian Church, she served in numerous ways at the local level and at the Presbytery level, where she held positions on numerous committees and on the Coordinating Team for Presbyterian women. The Life Membership Award was given to her from the Women of  Shenandoah Presbytery and from the women of her local church.             Betty was a member of DAR and P.E.O. Chapter BB, (Philanthropic Educational Organization), Augusta Historical Society, and Augusta Archivist Association.             She attended Staunton public schools, graduated from Robert E. Lee School, attended Blue Ridge Community College and graduated from Mary Baldwin College through the Adult Degree Program in 1982.             Her early employers were Celanese Corporation of America and Westinghouse Corporation.             Betty loved her family, friends, traveling, reading, playing bridge, swimming, and shopping as her R & R. She enjoyed searching genealogies for family connections.             In addition to her husband, whom she married March 10, 1945, family members include her daughter, Donna Katherine VanFossen Danner; her sister, Rebecca Wimer Sherwood (Stewart); her grandchildren, Jennifer Danner Klein, Angela Danner Smith (Taylor), Aaron Danner  (Josie); her great grandchildren, Ryland, Lexy and Avery Danner, Harrison and Ethan Klein, Adele Swanson, Braxton, Carter, and Katherine Smith; and her nieces and nephews, Reid Braxton Wimer III (Shirley Beale), Theodore Owen (Rose), Jerry VanFossen (Beth), Bonnie Ralston (Carson), Vicki VanFossen (Connie Forsyth), Lisa Hunt (Dan), and Eric VanFossen (Amy).             She was preceded in death by her brother, Reid Braxton Wimer, Jr. and her sister, Naomi Louise Wimer Owen Baker.             A celebration of her life service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 8, 2016, in the Second Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Evan Smith.             The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.             There will be a reception after the service at the residence.             Memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 175, Staunton, VA 24402 or to P.E.O., Cancer or Alzheimer’s Research.             Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.