Obituary: Betty B. Nofsinger, 88

The following is an obituary submitted by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory:

Betty Marie Blackwell Nofsinger, age 88, died peacefully on July 30 at Arbor Terrace Crabapple in Alpharetta. She was the daughter of Kameron Ziegler Blackwell and William Everett Blackwell.

Born on December 21, 1924, Betty grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, where she met her future husband, Donald P. Nofsinger. They were married on June 14, 1947, a marriage that lasted fifty-one years until Don’s death on October 27, 1998. Betty graduated from Farmville State Teachers College, now Longwood University, in Farmville, Virginia, in 1945, majoring in biology.

After teaching for several years in the Blacksburg, Virginia, area, Betty left work to raise a family, and to pursue her many creative talents. She and Don raised their family in Columbus, and later, Canton, Ohio, retiring to Surfside Beach, South Carolina, in 1984. For the past fifteen years, Betty was afflicted with vascular dementia, but she remained her cheerful, kind self throughout, and was a true inspiration to all who knew her.

She is survived by her four devoted and grateful daughters and her sons-in-law; Sue Chirone (Bob) of Marietta; Grace Cobaugh Masonson, of Derwood, Maryland; Donna Taylor (Lynn) of Federal Way, Washington; and Rebecca Nofsinger Schneller (Steve Erney, fiancé) of Northampton, Pennsylvania.

In addition to her immediate family, Betty is survived by: eleven grandchildren; Shannon, Sean, and Jason Chirone; Brooke Chirone Stanton (Mick); Page and Olivia Masonson; Gregory Taylor (Trista) and Douglas Taylor (Marina); Jennifer, Katelynn, and Bryan Schneller; and great grandchildren—Skylar Stanton, Evelyn Taylor, and Elliott Taylor; her niece, Kameron Seely Behrmann (Uwe); and her grandnephew, Kurt Behrmann. Betty was predeceased by her sister, Margueritte Seely; her infant brother, Benjamin Blackwell; her brother-in-law, Donald Seely, and two sons-in-law, Robert Cobaugh and Raymond Masonson.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the kind and compassionate staff of Vitas Hospice and the Arbor Terrace Crabapple for their tireless dedication to all residents, and especially to Betty.

A memorial service is planned for Friday, October 18 at Arbor Terrace Crabapple, 12200 Crabapple Road, Alpharetta, Georgia, 30004. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 5411 Northland Drive NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30342.