Emily Betts Obituary

CHELSEA - Emily W. Betts, 91, died Monday, April 26, 2010, at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph.

She was born Oct. 24, 1918, in Gastonia, N.C., the daughter of William and Bessie M. (Lowrance) Williams. She had attended Duke University at Chapel Hill, N.C. Early in World War II, she was a volunteer member of W.A.A.C. (Women's Army Auxiliary Corp.) and ferried (piloted) planes in Brownsville, Texas. At the end of the war she was a Red Cross volunteer in Europe.

On Aug. 27, 1949, she was married to Richard H. Betts of Chelsea.

For over 10 years she worked in human services for the state of Vermont. She was also the Chelsea town clerk in the early 1970s. Following her husband's death on Feb. 2, 1987, she was appointed by Gov. Madeline Kunin to fill his seat in the Vermont State Legislature. She was later elected for a second term representing the central Vermont towns.

She was member of the United Church of Chelsea, the Shire Town Quilters, S & B Club and the United Church Service Guild, all of Chelsea. She enjoyed playing the piano, reading, flower gardening, golfing, quilting, stock club and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by a son, Victor R. Betts and his wife Lee of Londonderry, N.H.; a daughter, Emily Betts Newman and her husband Rick of Chelsea; two granddaughters, Lauren Pruneau of Manchester, N.H., and Paige Betts of New York City, N.Y.; two great-grandchildren; a brother, William B. Williams, Jr. of Gastonia, N.C.; a sister, Lucille Powell of California; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband and a sister, Ruth Hellwig.

There are no public calling hours. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 1, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the United Church of Chelsea in Chelsea, with Rev. Marjorie MacNeil officiating. The burial will be at a later date in the Highland Cemetery in Chelsea.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Branch Ambulance Service, Inc., P.O. Box 74, Chelsea, VT 05038. Arrangements are under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home, Main Street, Chelsea, Vt.