Spencer, Elizabeth (Betty) House

Elizabeth (Betty) House Spencer, of Blacksburg, passed away peacefully September 9, 2012 surrounded by her family. Elizabeth was born in Denver, Co. and raised in Oklahoma. She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Chester Wallace. In addition to her husband, she leaves behind four daughters, Elizabeth Spencer-Allen (Charles), Margaret Schramm (Daniel), Catherine Spencer (Harry) and Hazel Scully (John); and eight loving grandchildren, Charles Allen, 30, Angela Mills, 25, Elliott Mills, 22, Amelia Schramm, 23, Elaine Schramm, 21, Lauren Scully, 19, Erin Scully, 16, Leah Scully, 15; and two brothers, Edward and Frederick House. She would want her beloved Chihuahua, Hector, 14 years old to be included. In her professional life she was a Registered Nurse, earning a three year diploma in Nursing from The Washington University School of Nursing and participating as Cadet Nurse during the WWII days. She then received a BS in Nursing from Kansas University. After raising a family, Elizabeth returned to nursing and earned a MS in Nursing from MCV, taught psychiatric nursing for several years, and achieved a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology at Virginia Tech. In addition to being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Elizabeth was an accomplished writer and poet. Retired, she enjoyed reminiscing with other older adults as a member of the Writers Workshop at Warm Hearth Village, and her writings appeared in several of the workshop publications. Her poetry, which reflected nature, life, and the spiritual, won several regional awards, and her personally published book of poetry, Circles of Change, was nominated for the 2001 Library of Virginia Awards. Elizabeth wished a small private family memorial service in Ft. Collins, Co.