Elizabeth Hewett "Betty" GRINNAN

GRINNAN, Elizabeth "Betty" Hewett, passed away on October 19, 2009, at the age of 88 at Southerland Place, where she had been a resident. She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Daniel Grinnan IV; and her brother, Richard Ridgeley Hewett. She is survived by her son, Daniel Grinnan Jr. and wife, Carolyn "Kay," of Richmond, Va.; and her daughter, Elizabeth Grinnan Purcell and husband, Arthur, of Andover, Mass.; brother, William Sherman Hewett and wife, Evelyn, of Canton, Ohio; and sister-in-law, Joan Hewett of Los Angeles, Calif.; grandchildren, Madeline Kate Grinnan of Los Angeles, Calif., Dr. Daniel Charles Grinnan and wife, Samara, of Richmond, Va., Dr. Jessica Lee Purcell and husband, Alan Brelsford, of Vancouver, B.C., Carolyn Rachel Purcell of Wilmington, Mass., and Charlotte Rebecca Elizabeth Purcell of Andover, Mass.; great- grandchildren, Emily Page Grinnan and Clayton Daniel Grinnan of Richmond, Va. Betty attended the University of Minnesota for two years before entering Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. There she was introduced to her future husband by his brother, an intern at the hospital. She left Johns Hopkins to marry Dan, who was a pilot in World War II. She completed her undergraduate education in 1960 at Virginia Commonwealth University (formerly Richmond Professional Institute) as valedictorian of her class. She received her M.Ed. in early childhood education from VCU in 1970. Betty was active in the education arena for most of her professional life. She taught kindergarten at Collegiate School (Monument Avenue) from 1946 to 1954. In 1955 she became director and lead teacher of First Presbyterian Church's Preschool Program, working primarily with three and four year-old children. She worked in the preschool program until the spring of 1992. Betty served on the adjunct faculty at both VCU and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College for many years, teaching courses in early childhood education. She was active in the community, serving on the Board of the Friends Association for Children, where she taught children of working mothers during the 1940s. She was an active and devoted member of the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church for many years, participating in church activities into her eighties. The family would like to express appreciation to Dr. John Ashworth, Betty's physician, and the staff of Southerland Place and Spring Arbor of Salisbury for their loving care and kindness during Betty's latter years. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 24, at the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, followed by a reception in the Church Hall. Interment 1 p.m. at Hollywood Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church or the Friends Association For Children.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.