Elizabeth Vidal

Family-Placed Death Notice

VIDAL, Elizabeth ELIZABETH JOHNSTON VIDAL Elizabeth Johnston Vidal died Saturday, April 16, 2011 after a brief illness. Betty was born in Shreveport, LA on January 22, 1930. She graduated from LSU, a member of Tri Delta, and came to Atlanta in 1950 to teach speech therapy at The Howard School. She served as president of the Women's Association of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, continued on the board for many years, was a member of the Junior League of Atlanta and active in the Atlanta Opera, and in 1969 she was voted Woman of the Year for the Arts in the city of Atlanta. During the 1970s she lived in Washington, DC, and served as Assistant to the Chief of Protocol for the White House. She was a member of the Primrose Garden Club, a lifelong member of "The Sewing Club," and "The Backyard Biddies." Betty was a constant companion to her loving husband Jim, and an inspiration to her family. Her grandchildren will always remember sitting on her lap at holiday meals, even as they outgrew her. A gentle, generous friend, a tireless volunteer, the quintessential hostess, and a strikingly beautiful woman throughout her life - she could play a set of tennis and finish without a hair out of place. Predeceased by her parents, Wilma Elizabeth Johnson ("Goggie") and John Bennett Johnston, Sr., by her son, Edwin Lochridge, III ("Win"), and by her sisters, Ann and Barbara and is survived by her husband, James Vidal, son Dr. John Bennett Lochridge and wife Millie, daughter-in-law Lesley Lochridge, step-daughter Betsy Vidal Hall and husband Chip, brother John Bennett Johnston and wife Mary, brother-in-law Bill Allums and wife Margaret, and grandchildren John Bennett Lochridge, Jr., Patrick Lochridge, Andrew Lochridge, Amanda Lochridge, Caitlin Lochridge and Thieme Hall. A memorial service will be held at The Cathedral of St. Philip on Wednesday, April 20 at 2 o'clock, with a reception at the church to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 1280 Peachtree Street, Atlanta GA 30309 in memory of Betty Vidal. Online condolences may be made at: hmpattersonspringhill.com.