Betty Lee Smith Arrington

Betty Lee Smith Arrington, 91, passed away at her residence on Thursday, October 23, 2025 surrounded by her family and loved ones.

She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She was a graduate of Radford Women’s College class of 1956. She pursued a career as a home economics teacher starting in Virginia Public Schools for over 40 years. Her lifelong enjoyment of sewing, cooking, home management and childcare became her career. She was a member of Independence Baptist Church.

Born in Nash’s Ford, Virginia, she took pride in her rural background, incorporating it to inspire others to turn their dreams into realities.

She lived her faith openly and managed to share it with everyone that she met.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Taulbee B. Smith and LaVada Musick Smith; her husband, John Carroll “J.C.” Arrington who was the love of her life; sisters, Castina B. Smith, Trula S. Young and Francis L. Fleenor and brother, Harold B. Smith

Survivors include two sons, John Drew Arrington and Victor C. Arrington and wife Dimple; cousin, Helen S. Owens; Nieces: Rita Ann Harman, Betsy Y. Dickenson, and nephew, H. E. (Ed) Young III.

Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m., Sunday, October 26th, 2025 in the Combs-Hess Funeral and Cremation Service chapel with Rev. Rick Smith and Randy Williams officiating. Entombment will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.

Most special, heart-felt thanks to caregivers, Annette Hughes, Joyce Newberry Kiser, "Dr" Robert Farmer, Regan Leann Center, and Kathy R. Mowry who gave so much of their time and love, and to Caris Hospice, and all who visited to brighten her days.

Pallbearers will be Jordan D. Smith, Matthew V. Mills, D. Keith Musick, David A. Leonard, II, Robert W. Farmer, Patrick W. Farmer, James Matthew Holmes and Douglas F. Petrick.

Honorary pallbearers Bailey Tate Jackson, Jr. Robert Darrell Glovier, Joseph Franklin Hawkshaw Hawkins, Rev. Danny Rhea, Blakely Carbury, Rev. Bradley Darrell Cook, Buck Sweeney, Jordan Dean Smith and Danny Musick.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Green Valley Christian Academy, 695 Green Valley Road, Lebanon, VA 24266.

Expressions of sympathy may be made on the Combs-Hess Funeral & Cremation Service Facebook page and our website at www.chfunerals.com. Combs-Hess Funeral & Cremation Service, 291 Hwy 71 Fincastle Road, Lebanon, VA 24266, (276) 889-4444.