Betty Rader

Betty Jane Booth Rader passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 1, 2024. Born July 16, 1924 in Vivian, WV, “Miss Betty,” as she was affectionately known to many, had celebrated her 100th birthday over the summer with family and friends. Betty was the daughter of William E. Booth and Henrietta Ballard Booth. She was raised in WV and received her associate degree in Education from Marshall College/University, where she met and married C. Warren Rader. Betty worked as a teacher when Warren served in the Pacific during WW II and continued that career as she accompanied Warren to pursue dental school and residency in Baltimore MD and Akron OH. They eventually settled in Charleston WV and raised their three children there for many years until Betty followed Warren on his adventure of a lifetime to the Bahamas, then to Columbia, SC. They ultimately headed home to Fairmont, WV and put down roots again, where Betty helped Warren open a new oral surgery practice, and worked with him as a team until retiring to Terra Alta, WV, where she enjoyed playing golf and making art and quilts, and later to Columbia SC where she was active in Shandon Presbyterian Church and the Shepherds Center, teaching art classes into her eighties. Betty was a talented watercolorist and crafter, as well as an avid bridge player and happy gardener. Her greatest love was spending time with her family.

Betty and Warren were married for 63 years before his passing in 2008, and they were predeceased by their dear son, G. Scott Rader, and Betty’s only brother, William E. Booth. Miss Betty is survived by daughter Sandra Parise (Patrick), daughter Pamela Currey (Donald), daughter-in-law Andrea Rader, grandchildren Caitlin Currey Zapata (Andres), Jessica Rader Lugo (George), Kristina Parise Noë (Zachary), Anne Rader Kennedy (Richard) Alison Currey Porpora (John), and John Warren Rader, 10 great-grandchildren, nephew William E. Booth and niece Fran Clarke. Miss Betty, with her grace and beautiful smile, will be sorely missed by so many, and we all take comfort in the cherished memories of our special times with her and the beauty of her art and quilts.

The family gives great thanks to the wonderful caregivers at White Oak of Columbia and Pathway Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Pastors Fund, Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow St., Columbia SC, 29205 (https://onrealm.org/ShandonPresbyte/-/form/give/now), or to the American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org/).

The burial will be private and a service to celebrate the life of Miss Betty will be held at 2 o’clock p.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at Shandon Presbyterian Church, with a reception afterwards. Dunbar Funeral Home is assisting the family.