Bette Mae Schintzel

On April 13, 2022, Bette Mae Schintzel, age 91, beloved wife of the late Arthur (“Art”) Schintzel; loving mother of Katherine Greenlaw (Steven), Sarah Evans, Arthur Jr., and John (deceased); doting grandmother of Eric, Mark, and Scott Greenlaw and Sophia Schintzel.

Bette Mae grew up in Coral Gables, Florida, as the only living daughter of John L. and Mae S. Woods. Demonstrating her lifelong independent spirit, she attended Queens College in North Carolina and graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a double major in English and history. From Ohio, she established new roots in Washington, DC, where she met and married Art. They moved together to the Northern Virginia suburbs, raised their four children, and filled their lives with enduring friends, fellowship, and community. As the children approached adulthood, she returned to work, earned an MBA from Marymount University, and retired honorably from AARP.

In retirement, Bette Mae moved with Art to Williamsburg, VA. She turned her considerable energy to her Kingspoint community, making dear friends through gardening, embroidery, bridge, walking, and book club activities. She often appeared at a neighbor’s door, with her famous cinnamon rolls or other treat in hand. She arranged and hosted countless community events and get-togethers with friends. Always an animal lover, Bette Mae joyfully fed birds from her deck and greeted all dogs who passed her way. She shared her special love of horses with her grandchildren, frequently taking them to the Colonial Williamsburg grazing areas to "say hello", and teach them how to feed the horses carrots and gently stroke their noses. She proudly supported Art in his activities as an honored D-Day/Omaha Beach veteran and Purple Heart recipient. With a retiree’s mindset, Bette Mae and Art traveled the world by car, air, and cruise ship, and spent many relaxing weeks in Surfside Beach, South Carolina. As Art’s health declined, Bette Mae lovingly cared for him until his death in 2013.

Most important to Bette Mae were family, faith, and friendship. “If God takes you to it, He’ll see you through it”, she often said. There were never enough family photos to place into albums for easy reach and on tables and walls for all to see. On her kitchen counter rests a needle-worked plaque, “Friends are like angels. You don’t have to see them to know they are there.”

We will miss her.

A visitation will be held Friday, April 29, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, where the service will occur Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM.

The family asks everyone practice social distancing and to please wear a mask.

Bette Mae will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with her beloved Art at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Williamsburg Community Foundation, 1323 Jamestown Rd, Suite 103, Williamsburg, VA 23185.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com for the Schintzel family.