Betty Jo Johnson Arbaugh, 96, of Lewisburg, WV, passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at Genesis Healthcare in White Sulphur Springs, WV.
Born on October 20, 1923, in Lewisburg, she was the daughter of Ernest Arbuckle Johnson and Carrie Merriah Freeman Johnson.
Betty graduated from Lewisburg High School in 1943. She moved to Akron, OH, and became a “Rosie the Riveter,” working at the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation during part of WWII. After moving back to West Virginia, she worked in the food service industry at Page’s Drive-in, Spud’s Drive-in, and the Court Restaurant. She very much enjoyed gardening, mowing the grass, and hosting meals at her house.
Betty was the oldest member of the Edgewood Presbyterian Church where she was active for many years with Gwen’s Meals, Down on the Farm Days, apple butter making, and was awarded the Honorary Lifetime Presbyterian Women’s award. In her younger years, Betty was extremely active in the lives of her family and her children’s activities, and was much loved by all her neighbors in the area of Judyville Road in Lewisburg.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Clifford Arbaugh; sister, Ruth Spencer; brothers Harold “Jake” Johnson and Ernest Johnson Jr.; and half-sister, Margaret Ford.
Betty leaves behind her son, Randy Johnson of Lewisburg; daughter, Pam Harders (Greg) of Lewisburg; son, Mike Arbaugh (Sandy) of Lewisburg; grandchildren, Kimberly Johnson (Jay Hayes) of Lewisburg, Joey Johnson of Lewisburg, Michael Harders (Alyssa) of Roanoke, VA, Joseph Harders (Hannah Tomes) of Clarksburg, WV, Chandra Bryant of Lewisburg, and Chad Bryant (Diane) of Pennsylvania; and great-grandchildren, Dawson Flack of Church Hill, TN, and Tatum Harders of Roanoke. She is also survived by a brother, Archie Johnson (Janice) of Frankford, WV; cousin, Joann Pearis (Herb) of Lewisburg; and several nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the McCraw Funeral Home. The memorial service will immediately follow, with the Rev. Robert Hefner officiating. Burial will follow at the Greenbrier Memorial Gardens in Lewisburg.
Betty enjoyed her flowers while she was alive, so in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Edgewood Presbyterian Church Blessing Box, 162 Harper Road, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
McCraw Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the February 10, 2020, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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