Mrs. Elizabeth "Bettie" Delaplaine

1930 - 2014

Mrs. Elizabeth (Bettie) Barker Delaplaine died on Thursday, October 23, at Frederick Memorial Hospital. She was 84 years old.

Mrs. Delaplaine, wife of George B. Delaplaine, Jr. of 59 years, had been admitted to the hospital the previous Friday and was stricken with an infection of the blood and kidney disorder.

Born October 9, 1930 in Roanoke, VA, she was the daughter of James M. Barker, III and Alta Strickler Barker. She was proud of her Southern heritage and enjoyed her childhood days in Virginia and Florida. From her early childhood, she was raised as a Lutheran and later became a member of Grace Episcopal Church in New Market, Md. She was a graduate of Landon High School in Jacksonville, Florida and Randolph Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, Virginia where she established a scholarship.

Following her graduation from college, she was on the faculty of the biology department at Hood College during which time she met her future husband George. The couple devoted their married years to raising their family, and in business, philanthropy and civic contributions, have given to the Frederick County community on many levels. Of specific note, they co-authored the annual Delaplaine Christmas newsletter every year since 1955.

Bettie served for many years as the director of special events at the Frederick News-Post and was well known in her coordination of 80 military band concerts which were brought to the Frederick community. As a result, she was presented the U.S. Air Force Commander's Award, the highest national honor given a civilian. Accordingly, she was invited to become a participant in the Ft. Detrick Officer's Wives Club. She served on the boards of the Frederick Community Concert Association, the Frederick Arts Council, the Board of Visitors of Maryland School for the Deaf, the Francis Scott Key Memorial Foundation, and was a co-chair of The Francis Scott Key Monument Re-dedication in 1996. She was a long-time member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and had a passion for history and patriotism.

Among her fondest associations was her service on the Board of Trustees of Mt. Saint Mary's University for sixteen years. She received the President's Medal for outstanding service from The Mount and also she was the recipient of honorary Doctorate of Humanities degrees from both Mt. Saint Mary's University and Hood College.

As a passionate patron of the arts, Bettie was a driving force behind the establishment of The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center and continued in the capacity as an honorary director until her death. She and George were responsible for funding the Delaplaine Fine Arts Building on the campus of Mt. Saint Mary's University. She also served as a trustee of the family's philanthropic Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. which continues to provide lasting impact by enriching families and communities. Bettie also had a great love of travel and she and George traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, North Africa, South America and Antarctica.

Her life was lived in devotion to her family, her faith, community service and enriching the lives of others. The ripple effect of the lives she touched spans multiple continents.

She is survived by her husband George, four sons, George B. Delaplaine, III and John P. Delaplaine of Frederick, James W. Delaplaine of Hustontown, PA and Edward S. Delaplaine, II of Crownsville, MD; grandchildren Kelsey M. and Kyle W. Delaplaine, Eric P., Kimberly C. Delaplaine, John Brayden Semler. She is also survived by her brother James M. Barker, IV and his wife Cynthann of Jacksonville, FL.

The family will receive visitors at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick on Sunday, October 26 from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, October 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 5740 Green Valley Rd., New Market, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center or the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.