Elizabeth Boothe Crumbley
Elizabeth Boothe Crumbley was born in Pulaski, VA on October 8, 1949, to Helen Louise Boothe Crumbley and Jesse Charles Crumbley, Jr. Her parents are long since deceased, but she is survived by her big brother, Jesse C. Crumbley, III and wife, Laura of Lynchburg, VA; nephew Boothe Bullock Crumbley (Molly); niece Margaret Crumbley Cable (Keith); and great nephews, Aidan Cable and Sebastian Crumbley; and great niece, Morrigan Louise Cable.
She died at her home on May 16, 2025, surrounded by her diabetic cat, and the ghosts of generations of beloved cats and dogs.
She loved a few people, also. Foremost among her relatives were her aunt and uncle Elizabeth and Charles Waldrop, from Savannah, and their children and spouses. Those cousins are Lynn and Roy Smithberg, Jimmy and Cynthia Waldrop, Peter Harris, widower of cousin Beth, and Vivian Waldrop, widow of Cousin Jake. Also from Savannah, aunt Faye and Uncle Tom Crumbley and their children Jennifer Crumbley-Dodson (Stan) and Tom Crumbley, Jr.. She stayed in touch with her local cousins, Malcolm Boothe, and his sister, Libby Kaye. She had many friends from her childhood in Pulaski, and her work at Virginia Tech.
As a child, she was known as “Betty Boothe” and as an adult “Liz”. Elizabeth Taylor and Scarlet O’Hara were her two of her heroines. Liz was fiercely intelligent and feisty. She had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature from Radford University and used her writing skill to great effect in her work at Blacksburg.
She had love affairs but never married or had children. She did love her animals. One of those was a heifer born at the farm next to her house. While watching it grow up, she became attached to it and bought it from the farmer who left it in the field. That cow spent all its days in bovine contentment, lingering at Liz’s fence line.
Flowers would be pointless, but a contribution to a charity benefiting animals would be apt.
If any lawyer has written a will for her, would he or she please contact Jess Crumbley 434 610 9395.
The family intends an interment ceremony and reception this summer and will notify those interested through this newspaper.
May 27, 2025 @ 6:02 pm
Thank you for this information. She was Liz to me. We met in the seventh grade at Central. Her talents were showing even then. That year she wrote and presented a play with our class for the whole school and she dissected a frog in front of all 3 classes in 7th.
May 27, 2025 @ 7:00 pm
That’s a great description of Betty Boothe.
Dan and I were so saddenex to learn of her death. Dan tried calling Jesse at home 2 days ago .
May 27, 2025 @ 8:40 pm
One of the BEST obits EVER!!! SO LIZ! I think she must have written it!!
I have wonderful memories of Liz and her parents, and fun times at her house!!! I always loved her intelligence and wit. She was one of a kind!!
May 29, 2025 @ 2:56 pm
Oh, I am so sorry to hear this. Betty (I could never get used to “Liz”) and I did a lot together back in the day, and she was my date for the 1967 PHS Senior Prom. I remember being at her house one night and she wanted me to listen to a new record album she had gotten – it was The Beatles, either “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” or “Magical Mystery Tour.” I enjoyed her company, but when she asked me how I liked the album, …. well, I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. And when I left that summer to be a lifeguard at a church camp in Craig Springs, VA, Betty gave me her collection of James Bond paperback books to read, I guess to keep me out of trouble in my spare time.
I hadn’t seen Betty for quite some time now, but it’s sad to know that she’s no longer there. Sleep well, precious friend, precious memories.
May 30, 2025 @ 9:47 am
Betty Boothe was a one of a kind. We were in the same grade throughout our years in Pulaski and both were member of the Firstt Methodist Church. I always enjoyed her company and even enjoyed some of her bourbon on the night of our high school graduation in 1968.
June 1, 2025 @ 4:51 pm
So sorry to hear about Liz’s passing. She was a wonderful friend I worked with at New River Community College many years ago. I remember when Elizabeth Taylor came to this area accompanying her husband on a political tour, Liz went to see her. Her comment was that “she had the bluest eyes.” May she rest in peace.