Elizabeth "Betsy" Pettyjohn Thomas was born on November 3, 1919 in Birmingham, Ala. to "Tibb" and A. P. Pettyjohn of Lynchburg, under the caring eye of her notable grandparents, Southern preacher and evangelist The Rev. George R. and Zollie Stuart. Spending her childhood in Lynchburg, at eight she was eating ice cream with her future husband, Howe Octavius Thomas. She attended Biggers Elementary School on Fifth Street and graduated from E. C. Glass High School. Betsy graduated from Randolph Macon Woman's College, majoring in English and minoring in Math.Meeting Howe in West Palm Beach, Fla. who got brief leave from military service at Hickam Field, Hawaii, the couple was married on July 12, 1943. She settled in Lynchburg, and taught at Philips Business School. After World War II, Betsy and Howe raised a family to which she devoted her life to nurturing and supporting her children. Following Howe through numerous moves with General Electric, they finally settled in Phoenix, Arizona in 1964. In 2006, Betsy, now widowed, returned to Lynchburg, and made home at Valley View Retirement Community. Devoted to Jesus Christ and the church, she served as a children's Sunday school teacher, president of the United Methodist Women, church board and annual conference member, and shepherd of fellow church members. Betsy enjoyed crafts, cooking, and football games. She was fiercely competitive at bridge, canasta, and board games of all sorts. Among other things, she is remembered for her exuberance and enthusiasm, can-do spirit, perseverance and faithfulness to her children and family.She leaves behind her daughter, Elizabeth Stuart Thomas Garner and husband, Curtis; her son, the Rev. Dr. H. O. "Tom" Thomas and wife, Pamela; her grandchildren, Melissa Garner Snell (Kevin), Karissa Thomas Kaseorg (Matthias), and John Stuart Thomas; and her two great-grandchildren, Hadley and Harper Snell.Her son, Glenn Archer Thomas, preceded her to heaven in 1991. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Howe, in 2002.Visitation is at 10 a.m. Friday, December 19, 2014 followed by a service at 11 a.m., both at Court Street United Methodist Church with the Rev.Tom Theilmann officiating. Interment will be in Spring Hill Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given in her memory to Park View Mission, 2420 Memorial Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24501; The Salvation Army of Lynchburg, 2215 Park Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24501; Good News Forum for Scriptural Christianity, P.O. Box 132076, The Woodlands, TX 77393; or Court Street UMC, 621 Court St., Lynchburg, VA 24505.Diuguid Funeral Service & Crematory-Wiggington Road Chapel, 385-8900, is serving the family. On line condolences may be sent to www.diuguidfuneralservice.com.