Elizabeth Jean “Betty” Weimer, age 103, of Buckhannon, WV, died Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Serenity Assisted Living in Buckhannon, WV.
She was born December 1, 1920, in Pittsburgh, PA, a daughter of the late Stephen William and Hannah Pearl Riggle Murphy. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. John Robinson Weimer, DVM; one granddaughter, Margaret Ellen Godwin, one brother, Stephen William Murphy Jr., and son-in-law, Dale Manuel.
She is survived by two daughters, Anne Manuel of Charles Town, WV, and Jane Godwin and husband David of Buckhannon; three granddaughters, Sarah Bonacorda of Martinsburg, WV, Jocelyn Peters and husband Greg of Buckhannon, and Martha Manuel and husband Sebastian Engel of Charles Town, WV; one grandson, Dr. Donovan Godwin, DDS and wife Casey of Swansboro, NC; nine great-grandchildren, Bella, Emma, and Madelyn Bonacorda, all of Martinsburg, WV; Matthew, Michael, and Brynne Peters, all of Buckhannon; Charlotte Engel and Mia Manuel both of Charles Town, WV, and Declan Godwin of Swansboro, NC.
Betty attended schools in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh before earning a BS in Biology from Bethany College and an MS in Biology from the University of New Hampshire. She then returned to Bethany to teach science courses to soldiers who were returning from the war.
She married John in 1947, and upon moving to Buckhannon in 1950, became a member of First United Methodist Church. She served in leadership positions there and in groups such as Fred Brooks Garden Club, Brooks Bird Club, AAUW, Delta Kappa Gamma, Welcome Club, and Zeta Tau Alpha.
She is probably best remembered for her leadership role in local and regional Girl Scouting, receiving a national award for her 50+ years of service. In 1992 she received the Athena Award from the Chamber of Commerce, which recognizes “transformative leaders, change-makers, and trailblazers.”
Betty spent most of her professional career teaching at West Virginia Wesleyan College where there is now a laboratory named in her honor. Many Wesleyan students over the years spent time in her basement playing games, eating chicken and waffles, and making tin can ice cream.
When the weekend came around, Betty always felt there should be a gathering of some sort. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing bridge, spending time in nature, and traveling the world on bird forays with the Brooks Bird Club.
Friends and family will remember her for her dry wit, practical jokes, and love of meeting new people.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 7, at First United Methodist Church in Buckhannon. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bucklew Fund at Bethany College, to WV Wesleyan College, or to a nature organization of choice.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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