Mrs. Betty Lou Robertson Armsey, 84, went home to be with the Lord on Oct. 31, 2022, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She departed this world from Riverside Regional Hospital in Newport News, surrounded by her daughters and grandchildren.
Betty was born Oct. 10, 1938, in Roanoke, Va., to Thomas and Hattie (Price) Robertson. Betty loved her Blue Ridge heritage but had a desire to see the world outside of her country home. Betty’s dream was to become a registered nurse and at the age of 17 she entered the nursing program at the Medical College of Virginia. After graduation Betty worked in many areas of healthcare. As a nurse she worked in the emergency department, obstetrics, psychiatric care, organ transplant, and preventative health care. As a nursing educator she was a tenured professor teaching psychiatric and maternal child nursing as well as nursing leadership. Additionally, she taught both EMTs and paramedics, and developed a countywide program assisting EMS services. She also developed many programs to assist new graduate nurses transition into their role. Betty developed patient/family support groups and numerous patient education programs, including several for children. Betty served in many positions as a healthcare administrator, from the eastern United States to South Africa.
Betty rounded out her nursing career with her love of end-of-life care. She was co-founder of two home health agencies and two hospice agencies, one in southwest Virginia (Hospice Choice) and one on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (Hospice and Palliative Care of the Eastern Shore). Despite the busy pace Betty’s professional life required, she did manage to find time for other enjoyment. She was an avid sailor, she loved long walks on the beach, and enjoyed golfing with her beloved husband, Harold. Betty had a passion for life that was unmatched by most people. She always had a desire to help others. She was constantly engaged in developing and implementing community and individual programs, finding ways to improve existing services, and help those in need.
Betty was predeceased by her husband, Harold, just three short months ago. She is survived by her brother, Thomas Robertson, and his wife, Joan, of Las Vegas, and her children, Lynne Lindsay, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Karen Davis and her husband, Chris, of Onancock, and Kimberly Williams and her husband, Keith, of Jacksonville, N.C. She is also survived by the children of her late husband, Harold, Becky Puleo and her husband, Steve, of Knoxville, Tenn., Jennifer Armsey and partner, Wendy, of Clearwater, Fla., and Karen Armsey-Keane and her husband, Robert, of Knoxville; and her grandchildren, David Richard Suyes IV, of Staunton, Va., Lindsay Suyes, of Pensacola, Fla., C. Spencer Davis and wife, Jenna Taylor, of Melfa, Chandler Winnie and her husband, Paul, of Chesapeake, Raymond Agar, of Newport News, and Adam Bland and his wife, Jordan, of North Pole, Alaska.
A gathering to celebrate and honor Betty’s life will be held at the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, from 2 to 4 p.m. Stop by and join the family in fellowship.
Betty has requested, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Living Stones Church in Exmore, c/o Pastor Janice Arena, 21062 Greenbush Road, Greenbush, VA 23357.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhome.com
