Elizabeth "Betty" Saunders Moritz

Elizabeth Saunders Moritz, affectionately known as Betty, entered in to Heaven on Friday, May 12th, at the age of 88. She was born on September 5th, 1934 in Catawba County to her parents, Walter Winfield Saunders and Celia Margaret Isenhower Saunders. Betty was a highly educated woman, having graduated from Newton-Conover High School in 1952, and receiving her Bachelor's Degree and teacher's certification from Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC in 1956.

Betty began her career as an educator in the late 1950s and early 1960s when she taught in the Newton-Conover School Systems. Her love for children led her to establish the first preschool in the area for three and four-year-old children at the First Methodist Church of Conover in 1964. Betty was dedicated to her job, but more so to the children, as she firmly believed in the following quotation: “100 years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of home I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world might be different because I was important in the life of a child.” She later added a Mother's Morning Out program for children aged six months to two years old.

Apart from being an educator, Betty was a dedicated community leader and an active member of her church. She served in many capacities throughout the years, including being the past President of the Junior Women's Club, which initiated a senior citizens program in the Newton-Conover area, a member of a garden club, several bridge clubs, and served as a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout Den Mother. In her church, she taught kindergarten and first-grade Sunday school for many years, was active in her circle and UMW, and served on the Love and Care Board of Directors.

Betty is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Lee Evan Moritz Sr.; her son, Lee E. Moritz Jr., and his wife Michele of Conover; her daughter, Elaine Moritz Bolick, and her husband, Tim, of Hickory; her daughter-in-love, Debbie Shelton Moritz; her grandchildren, Lee E. Moritz III (Megan), Lindsay Moritz Keisler (Corey), Jordan Bolick Howie (Tom), Jonathan Bolick (Kevin), Kyle Moritz, and Erin Moritz; her great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Olivia, Jeb, Payson, Caroline, McCoy, Quinlan, and Cameron. She is also survived by her nephew, Jimmy Bulla (Kathy), and niece, Kathryn Connor, along with many beloved cousins and extended family. Betty was blessed to have her close childhood friends for over 80 years: Mabel Lawing, Shirley Canrobert, Ann Holt and Pat Lawing.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, son Michael Saunders Moritz, grandson Matthew Ray Bolick, and sister-in-love Betty Moritz Bulla (Jim).

The family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the many caregivers who assisted Betty over the past several years, most notably Bonnie Wilhelm.

A Funeral Service for Betty will be held at 11am on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at First Methodist Church of Conover. Receiving will be held prior to the service from 9:30am to 10:45am.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Matthew Ray Bolick Scholarship Fund at First Methodist Church of Conover, which provides needs-based scholarships for the Preschool Program.

Betty's legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched with her unwavering dedication to teaching children, her tireless commitment to serving her community and church, and her deep love and devotion to her family. Her impact was profound, and her memory will forever be cherished by those fortunate enough to have known her.