Betty Jean Ward McGarrell Obituary (1936 - 2012)

Born Apr 13, 1936, Betty Jean Ward McGarrell attended William Byrd High School in Vinton, VA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Betty Jean Ward Mcgarrell.

Graduation Year	Class of 1955
Date of Birth	Apr 13, 1936
Date of Passing	May 09, 2012
About	Betty Ward McGarrell, 76, of Roanoke, passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert L. Ward; and a brother, Robert L. Ward Jr. Betty was a 1955 graduate of William Byrd High School and attended Radford College. In the 1955 edition of the Black Swan the following was written about Betty, "Here is a girl with a heart and a smile that makes the bubble of life worthwhile." She was voted most popular by her school mates, she was selected as a Miss Vinton, and Homecoming and Snow Queens. Betty worked at WSLS-TV, General Electric and served as office manager at Roanoke Wood Preservers until her retirement. After retirement she devoted her time to her mother, children and grandchildren. She was a member of Faith Life Baptist Church and a former member of Montvale Presbyterian Church. Surviving are her loving husband, Irvin E. McGarrell; children, Jeanie M. Harlow, of Roanoke, Wendy M. Beheler and fiancé, Jonathan Buttran, of Roanoke, Mary J. Owens and husband, Clay, of Bedford, and Daniel I. McGarrell and Glenda Finney, of Salem; grandchildren, Danielle Harlow, Amy and Adam McGarrell, Anthony Beheler, Hunter and Peyton Johnson; mother, Nettie B. Ward, of Salem; and a number of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society. Funeral Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Simpson Funeral Home, 5160 Peters Creek Road by the Rev. Johnny Basham. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery Vinton. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012, at Simpson Funeral Home, 540-366-0707. Arrangements by Simpson Funeral Home, Roanoke.