Bettie Sue Ford Blair, 89, passed away in her sleep at home on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Bettie was born in Port Royal, TN on August 1, 1932. She met her husband Wayne A. Blair while attending college at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. They married June 4, 1952 and traveled the world with the U.S. Army. Bettie spent 15 years as an elementary school teacher, which she truly enjoyed. She taught school in Taiwan, Texas, Georgia, and Thailand. When she moved to Hampton, VA in 1970 she left teaching to be a homemaker and volunteer.

Bettie was a dedicated altar guild member at the Chapel of the Centurion, Ft., Monroe, VA. She decorated the church altar faithfully each Thanksgiving and Christmas and served as president. Bettie was also a loyal member of Protestant Women of the Chapel, attending biweekly bible study. She supported the Men of the Chapel by cooking monthly luncheons for soldiers serving at Ft. Monroe. After the children left home, Bettie became a world traveler, visiting faraway exotic locations including: Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Cypress, Egypt, Greece, Scotland, England, Hungary, Thailand, and Turkey, her favorite.

From 1974 to February 2020, Bettie was instrumental in forming not only lunch bunch of ladies from Ft. Monroe, but an integral gathering of ladies monthly to stay abreast of the ever-changing role of Army women. This group was officially called WAWROS: Wives and Widows of Retired Officers. They supported each other with love, conversation, and help as they all grew older and husbands died. Their lunches were more than food; their souls as Army wives were fortified.

Bettie was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne A. Blair; parents, Jim Ford and Belle Whitehead Ford; her sisters, Dixie Ford Lawrence and Margaret Ford Young; and her daughter, Beth Blair Crowder.

She is survived by her daughter, Gem Ellen Blair; grandchildren, Kathryn Crowder, Matthew Crowder (Lauren), Christopher Crowder (Kylie); son-in-law, David Crowder; nieces, Mary Ann Young and Frankie Young Newton.

The family will receive friends at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home on Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 4-5:30PM. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 5 at noon at the Chapel of the Centurion on Ft. Monroe. Internment in Arlington National Cemetery with her husband will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers a donation in Bettie's honor can be made to WHRO, 5200 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23508; Peninsula SPCA, 523 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601; or Centurion Interdenominational Church, P.O. Box 3173, Hampton VA 23663; or simply plant a flower, shrub, or tree in your yard and think of Bettie and the animals.