Betty Newman Curry

Betty was a woman both of and beyond her times. It seemed she could do anything and everything, but the secret to her success was simple: she was a problem solver. She approached every facet of her life—whether designing a piece of artwork, writing a contract or starting a business—with the premise that if she thought hard enough, she could conquer the problem. And she usually did.

Born and raised in Illinois during the Depression to parents who did the best they could, she went on to achieve things they could never imagine. She married Richard L. E. Curry in 1949 and gave birth to three children: Hollyn in 1950, Michael in 1955 and Lori in 1959. She and Dick raised their children in Chula Vista, California where Betty divided her time between home and art. She worked in various mediums but was best known for her oil paintings. Her prize-winning work was exhibited in galleries throughout Southern California as well as in her studio located within Spanish Village of Balboa Park.

In 1976, with the children largely grown and her husband newly retired, Betty began a new phase of her life in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Two years later, after 28 years of marriage and decades of painting, she started fresh in 1978 as a single woman in business. She began as a secretary in a real estate office then progressed to licensed realtor and then to broker and developer. Her management and business acumen were greatly respected but perhaps her greatest talent lay in investment. She bought, owned and sold several franchises and small business ventures. By the time she was diagnosed with the neuromuscular disease that destroyed her mobility, she had amassed enough capital to support herself for the rest of her life.

Her diagnosis of Inclusion Body Myositis at 64 may have forced her to retire from her real estate career, but typical for Betty she went on to build, create and grow. She was a founding board member of Rockingham Heritage Bank, serving from 1989 to 2000. In 1989 she was named Woman of the Year by the Working Women's Forum. Her reaction to her devastating diagnosis was to begin the Inclusion Body Myositis Association by publishing a newsletter in her basement which ultimately expanded to become the Myositis Association of America (MAA) that is still instrumental both nationally and internationally in supporting research, patients and physicians. She volunteered her services as President and CEO of MAA for seven years before retiring.

Ultimately Betty’s physical needs forced her out of her home and in 2000 she acquired an apartment in Park Gables at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC). Once there, she went back to art—making wonderful polymer mosaics and exquisitely fabricated hooked wall hangings—but felt the need to do something more. In 2003 Betty decided that VMRC should have a juried art exhibition. She recruited Anne Shifflet and Irene Rebholz and numerous other volunteers resulting in their first show at Park Gables in 2004. It has continued as an annual show for eleven years, drawing entries from all over the United States and is considered one of the best juried art shows in Virginia.

Betty’s declining health forced her first to Crestwood Assisted Living and later, after the death of her son, Michael Curry, to Oak Lea Skilled Nursing—both on the VMRC campus. But she was still able to use her electric wheelchair to see the art exhibit this year in June. She is survived by her sister, Anne Gendreau, daughters Hollyn Curry Chase and Lori Curry, grandchildren Justin Curry, Whitney Chase Pimentel, and Andrew Curry Chase, two great-grandchildren, and many, many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the VMRC Juried Art Exhibition, 1491 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.

In lieu of a service, we ask that her friends and admirers think of Betty the next time they believe they can’t do something. Then go ahead and do it anyway.

Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg is handling arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyharrisonburg.com.