Betty Bowman Smith

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 10813 Donelson Drive, Williamsport, MD on Sunday, July 20th at 3 pm. Her inurnment is scheduled for July 21st at Arlington National Cemetery at 2 pm.

Betty passed away on February 2, 2014 at Homewood Healthcare Center in Williamsport after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Cloid "C.R." Smith, her parents, Robert M. Bowman and Della Hollister Bowman, her brother, Robert Bowman and sister, Mildred Payne. She is survived by son C. Russell Smith (wife Carolyn) of Charleston, WV; daughters Corinne Smith-Plattner (husband Peter) of Henderson, NV and Patricia Smith Rutledge (husband John) of Martinsburg, WV and 4 grandchildren - James Smith, Ashley Plattner, Kyle and Rebecca Rutledge.

Betty was born on December 30, 1924 in Cherry Hill, South Carolina and moved with her family to Washington D.C. and graduated in 1943 from Roosevelt High School. Her ambition in her year book states: "To always have old friends and make new". She maintained this goal throughout her life. She participated in many sports and clubs and most importantly joined the Gamma Beta Sigma Sorority which never lost touch. After graduation she volunteered for the war effort with the USO and Victory Corps which included writing letters to soldiers that were deployed. She picked a young man from her high school and wrote a letter to Cloid. They continued to correspond. She attended Madison College and left in 1946 to marry C.R. on September 21, 1946.

C.R. began his 42 year airline career in Washington DC. They lived in Virginia, Maryland and Florida. She made lots of good friends with each move. She was a great wife, mother and organizer. She belonged to a variety of clubs and had many hobbies through the different stages in her life. These included traveling the world, golfing, gardening, entertaining, making ceramics, volunteering, playing mahjong and bridge among other card and board games, visiting family and friends and going to church.

She was known for her bright blue eyes, contagious smile, being well groomed, having fresh cut flowers and chocolate in her home surrounded by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church or Washington County Hospice.

Arrangements have been made by Rosedale Funeral Home in Martinsburg, WV. Visit their website at www.RosedaleFuneral.com to share your thoughts and memories.