Obituary for Betty Jean Scheff King

Betty Jean Scheff King, age 92 of Pulaski, died Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Carrington Place in Wytheville.  She was born Betty Jean Scheff in Lynchburg Virginia on February 7, 1930 to the late Arthur “Art” James Scheff and Marguerite “Margy” Dowdy Scheff.

In the first 16 years of her life, she lived in 14 different places including Lynchburg VA, Elkhart IN, Kingston, NY, and many places in between due to World War II.  This fostered a love of travel that she kept all of her life. She finally ended up in Pulaski VA, where she lived for the remainder of her life.  In Elkhart at the age of nine, Betty won first place in the Miss Gladiola Festival, a feat she was most proud of.  In her teens and twenties, numerous sponsors asked her to enter various pageants including the 1950 Miss Claytor Lake pageant where she placed third.  Betty was even asked do some department store modeling. Betty participated in the Girl Scouts, and to add to her long list of talents she studied equestrian riding and ballet. She graduated from Pulaski High School in 1946 at the age of 16 and attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA.  After returning to Pulaski, Betty worked for the YMCA.

Betty married the late Edward O. “Eddie” King Jr. on March 27, 1954 and they resided in Pulaski. She worked with her husband as a bookkeeper for E. O. King & Son Real Estate and also for King Breedlove. After her children were grown, she worked for the C.E. Richardson Benevolent Foundation for 32 years until her retirement at the age 82.  This job afforded her the chance to do the things she loved; meeting, talking with people, and traveling. Gifted and being very artistic, Betty could draw, bake, and decorate beautiful cakes for family and friends. She even designed the home that she and her husband built and in which they raised their family.  Betty was also an enthusiastic sports fan. Her fondness for baseball spanned from the 1940s Pulaski Counts to the 2010s Pulaski Marlins. She cheered for “Dandy” Don Meredith and the Dallas Cowboys throughout the 60s into the early 70s. And, from the mid-70s through the late nineties she and her mother, Margy, attended most of her beloved Cougars football games, both home and away.  Since the age of 14 Betty was a member of First Baptist Church in Pulaski where she was known for her constant smile and friendliness.  She served as a Sunday School teacher, an arts and crafts teacher for Vacation Bible School, and also on many different committees.  She was very dedicated to her two boys and was able to balance family and work in that era. She was in the PTA, Band Boosters serving as treasurer, and chaperoned many band and school events.  She was a member of the Junior Women’s Club, Garden Club, and several bridge clubs. For many years Betty and Margy helped organize the flower show at the NRV Fair.

She is survived by her sons – Edward O. “Chip” King III (Janie) – Pulaski, and  Corey S. King (Lynn Rice) – Pulaski, grandchildren – Corey S. “Cody” King – Pulaski,  Victoria Alexis “Lexi” King – Cincinnati, Ohio, Step grandson, Travis Cecil of Pulaski.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Seagle Funeral Home with Dr. Henry Fiske officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, November, 3 2022 at the funeral home from 1pm to 2pm.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.seaglefuneralhome.com  Arrangements by Seagle Funeral Home, Pulaski.  540-980-1700