Betsy Ross Waid Mathews

Abingdon, VA Betsy Ross Waid Mathews, 88, of Abingdon, Va., died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, at Grace Healthcare in Abingdon. Born in Rocky Mount, Va., Betsy was a true Southern lady. She was a graduate of Radford College and taught music in Covington, Va., schools before marrying Kenneth Glover Mathews on Dec. 18, 1948. In 1953, she and her husband moved to Abingdon, where he was the high school football coach and, later, principal. Betsy was known affectionately as “Mrs. Coach.” Betsy taught private piano lessons in her home for many years. She was an excellent seamstress, needleworker, and an avid gardener. She served on various committees of the Virginia Highlands Festival and was a member of the Mattie Roundtree Garden Club. She was a longtime active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Abingdon, often providing the altar flowers from her own garden. She was a supporter of Barter Theater and enjoyed music, golf, cooking, and being with her family. Betsy was preceded in death by her parents, Lillian Gertrude McGhee and Charles Edward Waid; sister Polly Waid; and brothers William and McTurner Waid. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Garret (MaryAnne) of Carmel, In., and Dan (Kim) of Abingdon; three grandsons, Adam (Amanda) of Abingdon, Colin (Rachael) of Indianapolis, and Evan (Prianka Gosh) of Singapore; one great-grandson, Gavin; step-great-granddaughters, Madisyn and Emma; and special friends Peggy Johnson and Patsy Henegar. The family would like to thank the staffs of Bristol Regional Medical Center, Grace Healthcare, Home Nursing Service of Southwest Virginia, Mac’s Medical Equipment, Inc., Bert Parsons, Lora McCarthy, Sandra Rhymer, the Rev. Hilary Streever, and all who helped with Betsy’s care over the last few weeks. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2014, at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, at the Forest Hills Chapel with the Rev. Canon Kathy Dunagan officiating. Interment will follow at the family plot in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Ronnie Osborne, Byrd Preston, Jimmy Henley, Curt Campbell, Chick Wagner, Les Burke, Gary Neal, and Adam Mathews. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Stanley, Ed Legard, Jim Butt, Charles “Chippy” Smith, Howard Duncan, Floyd Branscomb, Jerry Davis, Paul Clark, James “Crow” Clark, Lynn Price, James “Eyes” Castle and all other former athletes and piano students, as well as the men who played on teams Ken Mathews coached in the 1950s and 1960s, first at William King and later at Abingdon High School. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 124 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 or to the American Cancer Society, 230 Charwood Drive, Abingdon, VA 24210. Those wishing to share memories and express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Betsy Mathews and her family are in the care of Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).