Betty Lowe Eaton

Betty Lowe Eaton, 78, passed away April 19, 2011 surrounded by her family after a year-long battle with brain cancer. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama and moved to Portsmouth in 1937, and grew up in Prentice Park. She graduated from Wilson High in the Class of 1950; attended the Norfolk extension of the College of William & Mary for two years and transferred to the main campus in Williamsburg, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. Upon graduation, she married James W. Eaton, Jr., also of Portsmouth and moved to Durham while he completed his degree from Duke University. Betty greatly enjoyed her time teaching and counseling students in Chesapeake. After teaching English for many years at Western Branch Junior High, she returned to school and received a Masters in Elementary Counseling from Old Dominion University. She served as a counselor at several schools in Chesapeake, particularly appreciating her time at Camelot Elementary. Betty was a wonderful woman of faith. She and Jim were active members at Churchland Baptist Church for over forty years, where she taught Sunday School and served as a deacon. Following their move to the Eastern Shore, she connected with a friend from William & Mary, who introduced her to Franktown Methodist. Always an enthusiastic and energetic church member, she enjoyed volunteering in various programs supporting people on the Eastern Shore and orphanages in Russia. Betty also loved to sing. She contributed her beautiful soprano voice to many different choirs, including the William and Mary Choir and the Common Glory chorus. She joyfully sang with the Churchland Baptist Church and Franktown Methodist Church choirs. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and her teaching sorority Delta Kappa Gamma. She also was a leader in organizing reunions for her Wilson High class. Betty was predeceased by her parents, Gentry Hearde Lowe, Sr. and Sallie Colley Lowe and her sister Abbey Marie Haire. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, James W. Eaton, Jr., her brother Gentry H. Lowe, Jr., and her children and their families: James and Lissa Eaton of Fredericksburg, VA; Edward and Sue Eaton of Chesapeake, VA; Lynn Eaton of Durham, NC; and Thomas and Alison Eaton of McLean, VA. She loved and enjoyed her 9 grandchildren and her nephews and nieces. The family greatly appreciated the care provided by her primary caregivers. Memorial contributions can be donated to Hospice of the Eastern Shore, 165 Market Street, Suite #3, Onancock, VA 23417 or any organization of your choice. Funeral services and burial will be held at Churchland Baptist Church in Chesapeake at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, April 23, 2011. Visitation will be held at Loving Funeral Home, 3225 Academy Ave., Portsmouth from 6 pm – 8 pm on Friday, April 22, 2011

Betty Lowe Eaton

April 20, 2011