Elizabeth Norton Kennan, better known as Betsy, was born on December 27, 1938 in Pasadena, California. She passed away on October 15, 2024. She enjoyed traveling as a child with her parents: Mr. and Mrs. William J. Norton. Betsy grew up in the Adams Morgan Neighborhood of Washington, DC. She was a proud to be a Washingtonian, having attended Calvert School by correspondence, DC Catholic and Public Schools, and eventually graduating from Western High School (Duke Ellington High School for the Performing Arts) in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington DC. After receiving a scholarship from the Army Daughters Scholarship Fund, she proudly earned her bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

It was during her youth, that she became very involved in the Episcopal Church and the youth group at Church of the Epiphany on G Street in Washington, DC. The friendships that she formed there became her family and life-long friends.

In 1967, while working as the Secretary to the Surgeon General of the Army, she met and married a young intelligence officer, James (Jim) S. Kennan. Together they spent the next twelve years, living in Hawaii, Texas, Virginia and Massachusetts. She loved and thrived in the life of an Army wife, it was the highlight of her life. It was during these years she and Jim welcomed two daughters, Anne Taylor of Baltimore, MD and Elizabeth (Beth) Kennan of Charlottesville, VA.

Upon Jim’s retirement from the Army as a Colonel, they returned to his beloved Albemarle County. Just as with the youth group, Western High School and Military life, Betsy went about making friends and finding ways to become a part of the Charlottesville / Albemarle Community. Her greatest joy in Charlottesville, was being the church secretary at St. Paul’s Memorial Church. She loved it and the parishioners who came to be her friends over twenty years.

When she and Jim retired, they went about traveling. Betsy always enjoyed an adventure especially when the trips included her daughter, Anne. It was wonderful to hear her talk of the smallest detail of those adventures.

Betsy is preceded in death by her parents and her twin sister, Anne. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband of fifty-seven years, Jim, her daughters Anne and Beth, and many cousins and extended family.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Kennan Fund for Financial Stability of the United Way of Greater Charlottesville (https://unitedwaycville.org/support/ways-to-give/) 200 Garrett Street, Suite I, Charlottesville, VA 22902. A special thank you to the entire staff of the Colonnades. Their support to the family has been invaluable and will always be cherished by the family.

A lesson that echoes through the dementia journey, is that kindness is key and when it fades from one friend or acquaintance, it often shows up in others who will light the way to peace and calm for the person and family suffering through this final long good-bye.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Service.