Bette Wagoner

Bette Watkins Wagoner, age 83, died on Saturday, April 4, 2015 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Born on June 24, 1931 in Ellerbe, NC, Bette was the daughter of George and Leona (Lizzie) Watkins.

Bette enjoyed the outdoors living on a farm in her early years. In high school, she was active in theatre and graduated in 1949 from J.W. Cannon High School in Kannapolis, NC. It was in high school theatre where she met the love of her life, Jerry D. Wagoner. They married in July of 1949 and after Jerry completed his service in the United States Marines, they eventually settled in Albemarle, NC.

In addition to raising three children, Bette was active in her church, local garden club and was a passionate and accomplished duplicate bridge player. She was also an involved community volunteer with the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Combined Charities and Stanly Regional Medical Center. In 1969, she began working full time as the Director of Volunteer Services at Stanly Regional Medical Center, a position she would hold until retirement in 1993.

During her tenure at Stanly Regional, Bette served as the President of the North Carolina Division of Volunteer Services and was a 1983 recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Award for Volunteer Excellence. She also served on numerous committees at First Baptist Church and on the Advisory Committee for the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Stanly Community College. Bette also loved fashion and thoroughly enjoyed shopping with her friends.

Bette was preceded in death by her husband Jerry in 1999 and eight siblings; Charles Watkins, William Watkins, Robert Wallace Watkins, Alfred Watkins, Arthur Lee Watkins, Ralph Watkins, Leona W. Brown and Kathleen W. Hvalnacka and is survived by her sister, Sarah MacRae of Concord, NC; three children; Teresa W. Henry of Reidsville, NC; George Frederick (Freddy) Wagoner of Greensboro, NC; and Katherine W. (Kathy) Boyd of Knoxville, TN. She is also survived by two sons-in-law; David Henry and Grant Boyd; five grandchildren; Bonnie D. Boyer, Mary D. Peters, Seth E. Dickinson, Samantha Boyd and William Boyd; two great grandchildren; Kellen Boyer and Annadare Peters and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank all of those who have demonstrated love, support and caring for Bette during the last several years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Stanly Regional Medical Center Foundation, PO Box 254, Albemarle, NC 28002-0254 and First Baptist Church of Albemarle, 202 N. Second St., Albemarle, NC 28001.

A service to celebrate Bette’s life will be held at 3pm on Saturday, April 18 at First Baptist Church in Albemarle, NC. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

Hartsell Funeral Home is serving the Wagoner family.