Louise Elder Wood "Lew" Batchelor

BATCHELOR WINSTON-SALEM ~ Louise Elder Wood Batchelor "Lew", age 80, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday April 6, 2010 as the result of cancer. She died peacefully with her family present at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Lew Batchelor was born on October 3, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland to Louise Houghton and Col. (U.S. Army) Edmund Scott Wood. As an only child, she was raised in Baltimore until high school when her family moved to Bradenton, Florida during the Second World War. She was married to William Mac Batchelor (Mac) at Duke University Chapel on February 5, 1951 and graduated from Duke University with a BS degree in Mathematics. Her proudest achievements are her four children for whom she was a stay-at-home mom. She served as president of the Sherwood Forest Elementary School PTA, president of the Ladies Auxiliary for the Forsyth County Little League Baseball Association, and in several positions on the Twin City Women's Club. She was a member of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. Last but not least, she was the financial and organizational glue for Batchelor and Daub Construction Company. Lew was a natural athlete. She played varsity field hockey in high school and as an adult was a snow skier, water skier and golfer. Her true love though was sailing which she enjoyed her entire life including memorable trips from the Chesapeake Bay to the Virgin Islands, and of course Lake Norman where she imparted her hard-won talents to her eager-to-learn children and devoted first mate, Mac. Lew had numerous hobbies including antiques, needlepoint, cooking and travel. She was a lifelong student of art, early American furniture and glassware. Her tastes were many and varied and she was constantly picking up a new interest, mastering it and ferreting out another. Her home was always stylishly adorned with the products of her ever-curious imagination. Lew loved Maryland crab cakes, crew cuts, party bridge, windy days on the water and a well-spun yarn. Her family will miss her wry humor, her unquenchable taste for the sublime, her fierce determination and, most of all, her love of life which was ever so readily reflected in her winsome smile and merry eyes. Perhaps her greatest attributes besides limitless patience and endurance were her creativity and fearlessness. Lew was simply unafraid to try something new, to consider the unknown, to take the road least-traveled. We have all benefitted from her determined philosophy. Lew found Christ early in life and maintained a steady, worshipful walk with the Lord for her entire adult life. Her faith deepened through the wonderful friendships developed as a member of Centenary United Methodist Church. Lew is survived by her adoring husband of sixty years, Mac; and her four children: Dr. William Mac Batchelor Jr. of Wilson, NC married to Kathy with children, William Mac Batchelor III, Robert Matthew Batchelor, and Allyson Louise Batchelor; Edmund Scott Batchelor of Raleigh, NC married to Betsy with children, Edmund Scott Batchelor Jr., and Sarah Batchelor Tucker; Robert Wood Batchelor of Charlotte, NC married to Beth with children, Rebecca Leigh Batchelor and Katharine Wood Batchelor; and Elizabeth Louise West of Montgomery, AL married to the Rev. Cameron West with children, Grace Louise West and William Cameron West. Lew also has five precious great-grandchildren: Owen Kyle Tucker, Trey Scott Tucker, Raleigh Breeze Batchelor, Daisy Wade Batchelor and Louisa Greer Batchelor. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem immediately followed in the fellowship hall with a reception celebrating her life. Condolences may be sent online at www.salemfh.com. The special people in Lew's life are too many to be individually listed, but in the past eighteen months since her struggle with cancer began we have been blessed with and would like to express our appreciation to the heroic doctors and nurses of Piedmont Hematology-Oncology and the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. The family requests that any memorials be donated to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, Arbor Acres Retirement Home 1240 Arbor Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27104 or Centenary United Methodist Church 646 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. "...those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31