Elizabeth Patrick Merritt (Betty) McFadden
January 18, 2018
Elizabeth Patrick Merritt (Betty) McFadden, 93, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
She was born in Florence, S.C., the third child of Blanche Jaeger and the Rev. Paul Dickson (P.D.) Patrick. Her father was a well-known Presbyterian minister who founded and served several pastorates in the Carolinas before finishing his active ministry in Kings Mountain, N.C. As a child of the manse, Betty’s early years were filled with music, church activities and friendships, family, and a deep and growing desire to serve her Lord throughout her life.
Following high school, Betty attended Peace College (a Presbyterian Junior College), where she was elected President of the Student Body and was named Miss Peace College, graduating in 1944. She then attended Agnes Scott College, during which time she was introduced to her brother Lawrence’s Davidson College roommate, William Russell Merritt (Bill), whom she wed and shared almost 60 years of joyous marriage.
Following graduation from college in 1946, Betty began her lifelong service in education, joining the staff of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Ga., as Director of Religious Education, while Bill finished graduate work at Georgia Tech. They moved to Roanoke in 1949, where she taught school until becoming the full-time mother of three active sons, Russ, Pat and Dave. The family became deeply involved in Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, with Betty teaching Sunday school (for 50 years!), serving as President of the Women of the Church, serving as a deacon and an elder (the congregation’s first ordained woman elder), Clerk of Session, church historian, singing in the choir, leading the annual Summer Bible School, working with the Stephan Ministry, helping with the youth program and the weekly Prayer Group, and more.
She twice served the regional Presbyterian body as Moderator of Presbytery (Fincastle and Peaks Presbyteries), and spent nine years on the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. She served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Massanetta Presbyterian Conference Center, and was elected to the national Presbyterian denomination’s General Assembly Mission Board for seven years, chairing the Professional Development Division and serving on the Church Loan and Ecumenical Connections Committees. In short, Betty “bled Presbyterian,” especially through her Raleigh Court Presbyterian life, and even converted her husbands – an active Methodist and an active Lutheran, respectively – to her “side!”
When her sons became old enough for her to return to the workforce, she was asked to become the first teacher of a special needs class in Roanoke, a program she led for 10 years. During that time, she was chosen as the Mother of the Year in Education for the Roanoke Valley in 1968, and her family was named Virginia’s Family of the Year in 1971.
Among her many community activities, Betty joined the PEO women’s philanthropic and educational organization, serving both as local and state President. She was also a longtime member and served as President of the Dogwood Garden Club, served on the Board of Mental Health Services of Roanoke, served on the Boards of the Presbyterian Community Center and the Pastoral Counseling Center, and loved being part on the ongoing church couples’ bridge club from 1950 until 2004. Through all of that involvement, Betty also went back to school to earn her Masters in Education from the University of Virginia (UVA), and was awarded the Peace College Distinguished Alumnae Award in 1985.
Throughout her life, music was very important to Betty. She learned to play the piano early and loved to play church music, serving as an accompanist at church, school and community activities from childhood into her eighties. She was lead clarinetist in her high school band and sang in church choirs for seven decades.
Following Bill’s death in 2004, Betty moved into Brandon Oaks Retirement Center, where she met Col. Frank ‘Mac” McFadden, and began a new and happy life as his wife. Mac and Betty traveled extensively and greatly enjoyed their senior years together until their health took them into Brandon Oaks Nursing Center, where Mac died in late 2017.
Betty was foremost a “do-er,” always active in service to her church, her community, her God, always involved in a committee or special project or service activity. She was always upbeat, a positive ball of energy, seeing the best in every person and every situation. She was quick to forgive, and always looked to build bridges and find new opportunities to strengthen relationships. She lived her life by her mottos, which are still with us today, “anything worth doing is worth doing well,” “the sun will rise tomorrow,” and “with God, all things are possible.”
But most important to Betty was her time with children and grandchildren. She rarely missed any sporting event, academic activity, Scouting venture or church program that involved her three sons, of whom she was extremely proud. And as much love as she lavished on “her boys” she was even more loving to her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.
Betty was predeceased by her parents; her two husbands; her two brothers, Paul and Lawrence, and their wives, Kitty and Mary Helen; her middle son, Patrick; her nephew, Larry Patrick; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
She is survived by her son, Russ and daughter-in-law, Kim, of Roanoke; son, Dave and daughter-in-law, Sharon, of Rocky Mount, Va.; daughter-in-law, Lee of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren, Owen, Kahra, Patrick, Jaeger, Laura Lee, Hunter and Austin; great-grandchildren, Ry, Bryleigh, Kadence and Merritt; several nieces and nephews; and her McFadden stepchildren, Donna King, Lucy (Gale) Henderson, Patricia (Terry) Hall, and Bill (Ginny) McFadden.
The family shares its deepest appreciation to the staff of Brandon Oaks for the wonderful care provided to Betty.
There will be a gathering of the family, friends and colleagues for remembrance and celebration of Betty’s life at Oakey’s South Chapel on Brambleton Avenue on Sunday, January 21, 2018, from 3 until 5 p.m. A special service of Christian worship giving witness to the resurrection will be held at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Whaley and Dr. Russ Merritt, on Monday, January 22, 2018, at 11 a.m. following a private graveside interment.
It is requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials to Betty be made to either the Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church or to the PEO Scholarship Fund. To God be the glory!
January 18, 2018
Elizabeth Patrick Merritt (Betty) McFadden, 93, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
She was born in Florence, S.C., the third child of Blanche Jaeger and the Rev. Paul Dickson (P.D.) Patrick. Her father was a well-known Presbyterian minister who founded and served several pastorates in the Carolinas before finishing his active ministry in Kings Mountain, N.C. As a child of the manse, Betty’s early years were filled with music, church activities and friendships, family, and a deep and growing desire to serve her Lord throughout her life.
Following high school, Betty attended Peace College (a Presbyterian Junior College), where she was elected President of the Student Body and was named Miss Peace College, graduating in 1944. She then attended Agnes Scott College, during which time she was introduced to her brother Lawrence’s Davidson College roommate, William Russell Merritt (Bill), whom she wed and shared almost 60 years of joyous marriage.
Following graduation from college in 1946, Betty began her lifelong service in education, joining the staff of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Ga., as Director of Religious Education, while Bill finished graduate work at Georgia Tech. They moved to Roanoke in 1949, where she taught school until becoming the full-time mother of three active sons, Russ, Pat and Dave. The family became deeply involved in Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, with Betty teaching Sunday school (for 50 years!), serving as President of the Women of the Church, serving as a deacon and an elder (the congregation’s first ordained woman elder), Clerk of Session, church historian, singing in the choir, leading the annual Summer Bible School, working with the Stephan Ministry, helping with the youth program and the weekly Prayer Group, and more.
She twice served the regional Presbyterian body as Moderator of Presbytery (Fincastle and Peaks Presbyteries), and spent nine years on the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. She served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Massanetta Presbyterian Conference Center, and was elected to the national Presbyterian denomination’s General Assembly Mission Board for seven years, chairing the Professional Development Division and serving on the Church Loan and Ecumenical Connections Committees. In short, Betty “bled Presbyterian,” especially through her Raleigh Court Presbyterian life, and even converted her husbands – an active Methodist and an active Lutheran, respectively – to her “side!”
When her sons became old enough for her to return to the workforce, she was asked to become the first teacher of a special needs class in Roanoke, a program she led for 10 years. During that time, she was chosen as the Mother of the Year in Education for the Roanoke Valley in 1968, and her family was named Virginia’s Family of the Year in 1971.
Among her many community activities, Betty joined the PEO women’s philanthropic and educational organization, serving both as local and state President. She was also a longtime member and served as President of the Dogwood Garden Club, served on the Board of Mental Health Services of Roanoke, served on the Boards of the Presbyterian Community Center and the Pastoral Counseling Center, and loved being part on the ongoing church couples’ bridge club from 1950 until 2004. Through all of that involvement, Betty also went back to school to earn her Masters in Education from the University of Virginia (UVA), and was awarded the Peace College Distinguished Alumnae Award in 1985.
Throughout her life, music was very important to Betty. She learned to play the piano early and loved to play church music, serving as an accompanist at church, school and community activities from childhood into her eighties. She was lead clarinetist in her high school band and sang in church choirs for seven decades.
Following Bill’s death in 2004, Betty moved into Brandon Oaks Retirement Center, where she met Col. Frank ‘Mac” McFadden, and began a new and happy life as his wife. Mac and Betty traveled extensively and greatly enjoyed their senior years together until their health took them into Brandon Oaks Nursing Center, where Mac died in late 2017.
Betty was foremost a “do-er,” always active in service to her church, her community, her God, always involved in a committee or special project or service activity. She was always upbeat, a positive ball of energy, seeing the best in every person and every situation. She was quick to forgive, and always looked to build bridges and find new opportunities to strengthen relationships. She lived her life by her mottos, which are still with us today, “anything worth doing is worth doing well,” “the sun will rise tomorrow,” and “with God, all things are possible.”
But most important to Betty was her time with children and grandchildren. She rarely missed any sporting event, academic activity, Scouting venture or church program that involved her three sons, of whom she was extremely proud. And as much love as she lavished on “her boys” she was even more loving to her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.
Betty was predeceased by her parents; her two husbands; her two brothers, Paul and Lawrence, and their wives, Kitty and Mary Helen; her middle son, Patrick; her nephew, Larry Patrick; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
She is survived by her son, Russ and daughter-in-law, Kim, of Roanoke; son, Dave and daughter-in-law, Sharon, of Rocky Mount, Va.; daughter-in-law, Lee of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren, Owen, Kahra, Patrick, Jaeger, Laura Lee, Hunter and Austin; great-grandchildren, Ry, Bryleigh, Kadence and Merritt; several nieces and nephews; and her McFadden stepchildren, Donna King, Lucy (Gale) Henderson, Patricia (Terry) Hall, and Bill (Ginny) McFadden.
The family shares its deepest appreciation to the staff of Brandon Oaks for the wonderful care provided to Betty.
There will be a gathering of the family, friends and colleagues for remembrance and celebration of Betty’s life at Oakey’s South Chapel on Brambleton Avenue on Sunday, January 21, 2018, from 3 until 5 p.m. A special service of Christian worship giving witness to the resurrection will be held at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Whaley and Dr. Russ Merritt, on Monday, January 22, 2018, at 11 a.m. following a private graveside interment.
It is requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials to Betty be made to either the Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church or to the PEO Scholarship Fund. To God be the glory!
Elizabeth Patrick Merritt (Betty) McFadden
January 18, 2018
Elizabeth Patrick Merritt (Betty) McFadden, 93, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
She was born in Florence, S.C., the third child of Blanche Jaeger and the Rev. Paul Dickson (P.D.) Patrick. Her father was a well-known Presbyterian minister who founded and served several pastorates in the Carolinas before finishing his active ministry in Kings Mountain, N.C. As a child of the manse, Betty’s early years were filled with music, church activities and friendships, family, and a deep and growing desire to serve her Lord throughout her life.
Following high school, Betty attended Peace College (a Presbyterian Junior College), where she was elected President of the Student Body and was named Miss Peace College, graduating in 1944. She then attended Agnes Scott College, during which time she was introduced to her brother Lawrence’s Davidson College roommate, William Russell Merritt (Bill), whom she wed and shared almost 60 years of joyous marriage.
Following graduation from college in 1946, Betty began her lifelong service in education, joining the staff of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Ga., as Director of Religious Education, while Bill finished graduate work at Georgia Tech. They moved to Roanoke in 1949, where she taught school until becoming the full-time mother of three active sons, Russ, Pat and Dave. The family became deeply involved in Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, with Betty teaching Sunday school (for 50 years!), serving as President of the Women of the Church, serving as a deacon and an elder (the congregation’s first ordained woman elder), Clerk of Session, church historian, singing in the choir, leading the annual Summer Bible School, working with the Stephan Ministry, helping with the youth program and the weekly Prayer Group, and more.
She twice served the regional Presbyterian body as Moderator of Presbytery (Fincastle and Peaks Presbyteries), and spent nine years on the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. She served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Massanetta Presbyterian Conference Center, and was elected to the national Presbyterian denomination’s General Assembly Mission Board for seven years, chairing the Professional Development Division and serving on the Church Loan and Ecumenical Connections Committees. In short, Betty “bled Presbyterian,” especially through her Raleigh Court Presbyterian life, and even converted her husbands – an active Methodist and an active Lutheran, respectively – to her “side!”
When her sons became old enough for her to return to the workforce, she was asked to become the first teacher of a special needs class in Roanoke, a program she led for 10 years. During that time, she was chosen as the Mother of the Year in Education for the Roanoke Valley in 1968, and her family was named Virginia’s Family of the Year in 1971.
Among her many community activities, Betty joined the PEO women’s philanthropic and educational organization, serving both as local and state President. She was also a longtime member and served as President of the Dogwood Garden Club, served on the Board of Mental Health Services of Roanoke, served on the Boards of the Presbyterian Community Center and the Pastoral Counseling Center, and loved being part on the ongoing church couples’ bridge club from 1950 until 2004. Through all of that involvement, Betty also went back to school to earn her Masters in Education from the University of Virginia (UVA), and was awarded the Peace College Distinguished Alumnae Award in 1985.
Throughout her life, music was very important to Betty. She learned to play the piano early and loved to play church music, serving as an accompanist at church, school and community activities from childhood into her eighties. She was lead clarinetist in her high school band and sang in church choirs for seven decades.
Following Bill’s death in 2004, Betty moved into Brandon Oaks Retirement Center, where she met Col. Frank ‘Mac” McFadden, and began a new and happy life as his wife. Mac and Betty traveled extensively and greatly enjoyed their senior years together until their health took them into Brandon Oaks Nursing Center, where Mac died in late 2017.
Betty was foremost a “do-er,” always active in service to her church, her community, her God, always involved in a committee or special project or service activity. She was always upbeat, a positive ball of energy, seeing the best in every person and every situation. She was quick to forgive, and always looked to build bridges and find new opportunities to strengthen relationships. She lived her life by her mottos, which are still with us today, “anything worth doing is worth doing well,” “the sun will rise tomorrow,” and “with God, all things are possible.”
But most important to Betty was her time with children and grandchildren. She rarely missed any sporting event, academic activity, Scouting venture or church program that involved her three sons, of whom she was extremely proud. And as much love as she lavished on “her boys” she was even more loving to her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.
Betty was predeceased by her parents; her two husbands; her two brothers, Paul and Lawrence, and their wives, Kitty and Mary Helen; her middle son, Patrick; her nephew, Larry Patrick; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
She is survived by her son, Russ and daughter-in-law, Kim, of Roanoke; son, Dave and daughter-in-law, Sharon, of Rocky Mount, Va.; daughter-in-law, Lee of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren, Owen, Kahra, Patrick, Jaeger, Laura Lee, Hunter and Austin; great-grandchildren, Ry, Bryleigh, Kadence and Merritt; several nieces and nephews; and her McFadden stepchildren, Donna King, Lucy (Gale) Henderson, Patricia (Terry) Hall, and Bill (Ginny) McFadden.
The family shares its deepest appreciation to the staff of Brandon Oaks for the wonderful care provided to Betty.
There will be a gathering of the family, friends and colleagues for remembrance and celebration of Betty’s life at Oakey’s South Chapel on Brambleton Avenue on Sunday, January 21, 2018, from 3 until 5 p.m. A special service of Christian worship giving witness to the resurrection will be held at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Whaley and Dr. Russ Merritt, on Monday, January 22, 2018, at 11 a.m. following a private graveside interment.
It is requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials to Betty be made to either the Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church or to the PEO Scholarship Fund. To God be the glory!
January 18, 2018
Elizabeth Patrick Merritt (Betty) McFadden, 93, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
She was born in Florence, S.C., the third child of Blanche Jaeger and the Rev. Paul Dickson (P.D.) Patrick. Her father was a well-known Presbyterian minister who founded and served several pastorates in the Carolinas before finishing his active ministry in Kings Mountain, N.C. As a child of the manse, Betty’s early years were filled with music, church activities and friendships, family, and a deep and growing desire to serve her Lord throughout her life.
Following high school, Betty attended Peace College (a Presbyterian Junior College), where she was elected President of the Student Body and was named Miss Peace College, graduating in 1944. She then attended Agnes Scott College, during which time she was introduced to her brother Lawrence’s Davidson College roommate, William Russell Merritt (Bill), whom she wed and shared almost 60 years of joyous marriage.
Following graduation from college in 1946, Betty began her lifelong service in education, joining the staff of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Ga., as Director of Religious Education, while Bill finished graduate work at Georgia Tech. They moved to Roanoke in 1949, where she taught school until becoming the full-time mother of three active sons, Russ, Pat and Dave. The family became deeply involved in Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, with Betty teaching Sunday school (for 50 years!), serving as President of the Women of the Church, serving as a deacon and an elder (the congregation’s first ordained woman elder), Clerk of Session, church historian, singing in the choir, leading the annual Summer Bible School, working with the Stephan Ministry, helping with the youth program and the weekly Prayer Group, and more.
She twice served the regional Presbyterian body as Moderator of Presbytery (Fincastle and Peaks Presbyteries), and spent nine years on the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. She served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Massanetta Presbyterian Conference Center, and was elected to the national Presbyterian denomination’s General Assembly Mission Board for seven years, chairing the Professional Development Division and serving on the Church Loan and Ecumenical Connections Committees. In short, Betty “bled Presbyterian,” especially through her Raleigh Court Presbyterian life, and even converted her husbands – an active Methodist and an active Lutheran, respectively – to her “side!”
When her sons became old enough for her to return to the workforce, she was asked to become the first teacher of a special needs class in Roanoke, a program she led for 10 years. During that time, she was chosen as the Mother of the Year in Education for the Roanoke Valley in 1968, and her family was named Virginia’s Family of the Year in 1971.
Among her many community activities, Betty joined the PEO women’s philanthropic and educational organization, serving both as local and state President. She was also a longtime member and served as President of the Dogwood Garden Club, served on the Board of Mental Health Services of Roanoke, served on the Boards of the Presbyterian Community Center and the Pastoral Counseling Center, and loved being part on the ongoing church couples’ bridge club from 1950 until 2004. Through all of that involvement, Betty also went back to school to earn her Masters in Education from the University of Virginia (UVA), and was awarded the Peace College Distinguished Alumnae Award in 1985.
Throughout her life, music was very important to Betty. She learned to play the piano early and loved to play church music, serving as an accompanist at church, school and community activities from childhood into her eighties. She was lead clarinetist in her high school band and sang in church choirs for seven decades.
Following Bill’s death in 2004, Betty moved into Brandon Oaks Retirement Center, where she met Col. Frank ‘Mac” McFadden, and began a new and happy life as his wife. Mac and Betty traveled extensively and greatly enjoyed their senior years together until their health took them into Brandon Oaks Nursing Center, where Mac died in late 2017.
Betty was foremost a “do-er,” always active in service to her church, her community, her God, always involved in a committee or special project or service activity. She was always upbeat, a positive ball of energy, seeing the best in every person and every situation. She was quick to forgive, and always looked to build bridges and find new opportunities to strengthen relationships. She lived her life by her mottos, which are still with us today, “anything worth doing is worth doing well,” “the sun will rise tomorrow,” and “with God, all things are possible.”
But most important to Betty was her time with children and grandchildren. She rarely missed any sporting event, academic activity, Scouting venture or church program that involved her three sons, of whom she was extremely proud. And as much love as she lavished on “her boys” she was even more loving to her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.
Betty was predeceased by her parents; her two husbands; her two brothers, Paul and Lawrence, and their wives, Kitty and Mary Helen; her middle son, Patrick; her nephew, Larry Patrick; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
She is survived by her son, Russ and daughter-in-law, Kim, of Roanoke; son, Dave and daughter-in-law, Sharon, of Rocky Mount, Va.; daughter-in-law, Lee of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren, Owen, Kahra, Patrick, Jaeger, Laura Lee, Hunter and Austin; great-grandchildren, Ry, Bryleigh, Kadence and Merritt; several nieces and nephews; and her McFadden stepchildren, Donna King, Lucy (Gale) Henderson, Patricia (Terry) Hall, and Bill (Ginny) McFadden.
The family shares its deepest appreciation to the staff of Brandon Oaks for the wonderful care provided to Betty.
There will be a gathering of the family, friends and colleagues for remembrance and celebration of Betty’s life at Oakey’s South Chapel on Brambleton Avenue on Sunday, January 21, 2018, from 3 until 5 p.m. A special service of Christian worship giving witness to the resurrection will be held at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Whaley and Dr. Russ Merritt, on Monday, January 22, 2018, at 11 a.m. following a private graveside interment.
It is requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials to Betty be made to either the Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church or to the PEO Scholarship Fund. To God be the glory!
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