Betty Lou Stratton Schrock

Betty Lou Stratton Schrock, a young 82, of Clifton Forge, Va., and Zweibruecken, West Germany, passed on to a higher calling on Sunday, June 28, 2009, after a long, courageous, and dignified battle with COPD and CHF. B.L., pronounced "BeeAl," was born on April 11, 1927, in Wheeling, W.Va. She was the only daughter of the late Pearl S. Heinbaugh Armentrout and her husband, Edgar Armentrout.
She is survived by her two daughters, Letitia Jo Schrock and Georgia Schrock Gray; along with her son-in-law, Ralph Gray; and her two grandchildren, John Albert Gray and Samantha Lee Gray. She also leaves behind her trusty dog grandchild, Sugar Bear.
B.L. graduated from Clifton Forge High School as the Valedictorian of her class in 1945. She went on to attend an all girls' college, Milligan College in Tennessee. After graduating from Milligan College, Betty Lou and her cousin, Peggy Maiden, joined up with the Department of Defense as educators and they both quickly were shipped overseas to England. Betty Lou traveled extensively throughout Europe during her summer breaks and actually took on an exciting assignment in Tokyo, Japan. Betty was an avid art lover and collected many precious souvenirs during her travels. It was at a celebration in Wiesbaden, West Germany where she met and fell in love with husband, A.L Schrock. A consummate educator, B.L. taught her daughters about history, both here in the United States and in Europe by taking them to historical places, always serving as the tour guide. After the death of her husband in 1986, B.L. retired to her home place in Clifton Forge in 1988. Betty Lou loved her Boston Celtics and the NBA.
She served on the Total Action Against Poverty Board and volunteered weekly at the Food Pantry until the decline in her health prevented her from doing so. Betty Lou was an avid suspense novel reader and donated her books to the Clifton Forge Library after she had read them. Betty Lou was quite the philanthropist in that she supported many great causes in her retirement, including the Christian Children's Fund, St. Jude Children's Hospital, the American Cancer Society, and the American Lung Association.
A graveside funeral service will be held 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, in Crown Hill Cemetery, Clifton Forge with the Reverend Virgil Woody officiating. All friends, acquaintances, co-workers and family are welcome to join in a brief service at the cemetery.
P lease take the time to make a difference in those lives that are less fortunate and share as she did! To celebrate her great philanthropic life, we suggest that you donate to her most valued cause, The Christian Children's Fund, which she supported for over 45 years. For more information on this superior organization and to donate, please contact: 1-800-776-6767.
Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, Va., is in charge of arrangements. To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.