Elizabeth Leone Saylor
The Lord has summoned a most beautiful angel. On Saturday, June 30th, 2018, Elizabeth Leone (Lewis) Saylor departed this earth at the age of 84 after battling cancer since early April.
“Betty” was born on October 31, 1933 in Washington, D.C., the daughter of the late John Asbury Lewis, and Leona (Crump) Lewis.
Betty was an exceptionally bright, talented, and creative student, graduating with high honors in her class and was selected to be the first to enter the auditorium on graduation day. She received scholarship offers in art from several colleges, but instead chose to pursue her interest as a legal secretary. She attended the Washington School for Secretaries in the fall of 1951, which led to her being hired as Executive Secretary for a prestigious law firm in Washington.
It was in Washington where she met the man who would one day be her husband. On an evening in November 1952, Betty was on a double date with a friend when she met Arlen R. Saylor, who was a member of the United States Army Band. She described him as charismatic, warm and friendly. They all had a pleasant evening. Then, sometime around New Year’s Eve 1952 while attending a dance at the Navy Yard, complete with small group of uniformed musicians, she described becoming aware of a most beautiful sound coming from one of the instruments. She said, “I could only describe it as something coming from another place, like Heaven!” It was then that she realized this magnificent music was coming from the trumpet of Arlen Saylor!
During the next break, she went to the stage and introduced herself again to Arlen, and of course, he remembered her. Arlen and Betty were married on June 15, 1959 and celebrated 56 loving years together.
They had three children, Arlen Richard Saylor Jr., who came to be known as “Buzz,” Mark Andrew Saylor, and Laurie Elizabeth (Saylor) Hunchar. Betty was a model mother, always placing family first. She joined Arlen in one of his many hobbies, pistol shooting. She became an outstanding marksman, competing along with Arlen in various competitions.
She also found time to enjoy other activities of her own personal interest, including being a fashion model which she did into her early 60s.
She was also a member of the Pottstown Symphony board where she wrote grant requests to corporate donors, and she was even disc jockey with her own radio show in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. But most important of all, she devoted her life to her husband and children, enjoying music, sports, camping trips, and gatherings of friends.
Her husband, Arlen, passed away on July 17, 2015.
She is survived by her children, Buzz, Mark and Kelli (Mackey) Saylor, and Laurie (Saylor) and husband Bob Hunchar. She will be forever missed by her older brother, John Lewis (husband of Margaret Lewis, deceased), as well as her sister-in-law on Arlen’s side, Carolyn (Saylor) McFarland and her husband William McFarland. She leaves behind two grandchildren, Nole Asbury Saylor and Rayne Alexander Saylor.
A celebration of Betty Saylor’s life will be held, with the date, time, and location to be shared on Facebook.
Arrangements are by the Schumacher & Benner Funeral Home & Crematory, at 359 King St. in Pottstown, PA. Our website exists to serve the friends and family of the deceased. Go to http:// www.schumacherandbenner.com to extend sympathies and access additional service details.