Betty Shepard Rusnak

Betty Shepard Rusnak Wilmington native, Betty Shepard Harris Rusnak, 77, daughter of the late Harry and Mary Edna Shepard, passed into peace Friday, September 21, 2012, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. She attended New Hanover High School and was an active member of the band. Betty married L.G. Harris, Jr. with whom she had two children, son, Lee and daughter, Vicki. While moving often as a corporate wife, Betty thrived in the domestic life of motherhood, working around the house, sewing, playing the organ by ear and volunteering with Beta Sigma Phi, Lions Auxiliary and on the fraternal side of Woodmen of the World. In midlife, Betty reinvented herself in banking in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She rose from safety deposit box teller, to teller, to head teller to loan officer with Barnett Bank. While working at Barnett, Betty met and married Michael Rusnak. They enjoyed many years of fun with Betty's dear sister, Mary Fussell, her brother-in-law, Clyde Fussell and Betty's parents. After Mike's death, Betty retired and enjoyed the companionship of Bill Pearce. They spent many happy hours dancing and touring the USA. Four years ago, Betty moved back to her hometown to be near her son, daughter-in-law, beloved grandchildren and many cousins. As her health declined, Betty cherished the devotion of her caregivers, Veda Murrell, Lydia Brown, Penni Towe and Michelle Anderson who helped make her struggles with Parkinson's disease so much easier. Betty leaves behind her family and friends including her beloved sister, Mary S. Fussell of Tampa, FL; son, Lee Harris, III, his wife, Mimi, and cherished grandchildren, Kent, Diana and Sharon, all of Wilmington; daughter, Vicki Dice and her husband, David, of Moreland, GA; loved niece, Mary Deborah Fussell and her husband, Jerry Phillips, of Tampa; valued nephew, Bill Fussell, his wife, Trish, and their children, Michael, Eliza, Chandler, and Austin, all of Atlanta, GA. Services at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel. Visitation, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, September 23, 2012, and the funeral service 2 p.m. Monday. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Betty's favorite charity, Toys for Tots. 18251 Quantico Gateway Dr., Triangle, VA 22172 or the National Parkinson's Foundation, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018.