Elizabeth L. Peterson of West Chester

Elizabeth L. Peterson, 92, of West Chester went to Glory in Charlottesville, VA on Nov. 9, 2018. She had a stroke on Oct. 27, was in the hospital for one week and then to hospice for six days. She was Betty to her friends, Mom to her three sons and Nanny to her eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Betty was married to the late Frank E. Peterson of West Chester for 54 years.

Born in Roxborough, Philadelphia on Nov. 7, 1926 she worked for United Airlines in the 1940’s, married Frank in 1948 and had three sons, Mark Peterson of West Grove, PA; Wayne Peterson of Ruckersville, VA; and Jay Peterson of Palmyra, VA.

Betty was involved in many activities throughout her life. In 1956 she entered the Mrs. America contest and won the Mrs. Eastern Pennsylvania title. She opened the Manpower Inc. office in West Chester in the 1960’s and later was a realtor in Chester County for twenty-five years. She earned the business woman of the year award from the American Women’s Business Association and has earned numerous awards as a realtor.

Betty was probably most noted for her volunteer work throughout the area before and after retirement. She has been a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in West Chester for decades and has volunteered her time and talent at the church for many activities including: Calvary Connections – visiting both homes and nursing homes with food and dinners for the sick; Rejoicing Spirits – helping the emotionally challenged who have difficulty sitting through an entire service and Ministry of the Bells – she coordinated volunteers to ring bells for the Salvation Army from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Betty was a member of the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) and won the Many Hats Award for hundreds of volunteer hours in Chester County.

She was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels beginning in 1972 and had 32 continuous years of service. Betty bought food and prepared dinners for the Safe Harbor Shelter in West Chester and worked in a booth at the Devon Horse Show that benefited Thorncroft, an equine therapy program. Because of her love of aviation Betty worked at the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center of West Chester. She volunteered over 2500 hours helping with admissions and the gift shop.

Betty was a modest, compassionate and loving person. She will be missed.

The funeral will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church (730 S. New St. West Ches- ter, PA 19382) on Saturday Nov. 15, 2018. A visitation will start at 10:30 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be private with immediate family.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Betty’s memory to Calvary Lutheran Church (730 S. New St. West Chester, PA 19382) or Meals on Wheels of Chester County (404 Willowbrook Ln. West Chester, PA 19382).