Elizabeth V. Burch Popham

Elizabeth V. Burch Popham

Louisville - Elizabeth V. Burch Popham, 91, of Louisville, died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, November 20, 2018. She was born in Carlisle County, KY, the fifth of the six children raised by Henry ("Watt") and Ida Ryan Burch on "Tight" Lane in Fancy Farm. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Alton, Mary, Ruth, George and Dorothy.

Elizabeth ("Bette") is survived by her beloved husband of 70 years, Dr. Bernard I. Popham; their 7 children, Kathleen Popham Goyette (Daniel T.), Suzanne Popham Gross (Joseph F.), Dr. Timothy B. Popham (Elizabeth Ross), Burch V. Popham (Linda), Gregory J. Popham (Rebecca), Daniel P. Popham and Dr. Julia A. Popham; 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

She graduated from Sts. Mary and Elizabeth School of Nursing and attended Bellarmine College. In addition to her work as a registered nurse, she served two terms on the Louisville Board of Health and engaged in a number of church and community activities.

Above all, Bette loved her large and still growing family. She was a strong, independent woman of deep and abiding faith, who possessed an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor. Bette was the anchor of the family, a soft-spoken force who could always be relied upon to provide wise, direct and practical advice dispensed with love and respect.

In turn, she was deeply loved and greatly admired by her family, all of whom learned valuable lessons from her about life and love, faith and charity, right and wrong, patience and forgiveness, the importance of hard work and resilience and, most of all, the meaning and significance of family. Those lessons will live on in memory and in all those whose lives she touched and so profoundly influenced. She was a truly generous, gentle and beautiful soul.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at St. Francis of Assisi, 1960 Bardstown Road, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, November 26, 2018, at Ratterman Funeral Home, 3711 Lexington Road, "in St. Matthews".

In keeping with Bette's wishes, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Mass of the Air, KY Right To Life or St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.