Betty Montgomery Angell

Betty Montgomery Angell, age 93, and a resident at the Petersburg Home for Ladies, passed away on May 13, 2023. Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 70 years, Burrel Dean Angell; her parents, Mattie Lou and Thomas Montgomery; as well as three siblings, Laverne, Thomas, and Spencer.

Betty was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 23, 1929, but was raised in Greenville, Mississippi. After graduating from Greenville High School and Business College, she moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she met her future husband, Dean, on a blind date. They were engaged on Valentine's Day 1950 and married later that year. When Dean graduated from NCSU, and accepted an Army commission, they set off to travel the world as Dean served his country. They were stationed and lived in Japan, Germany, and France as well as South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and California. Wherever they were, Betty made the house a home. At one point, that home was two rooms in a French hotel.

Betty thrived while participating in community activities and organizations, often taking leadership roles. She was active in Officers Wives Clubs, PTA, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and in her Church.

When Betty and Dean decided to retire in Petersburg, Betty stepped into a new career of retail. She became a Registered Bridal Consultant and shop manager for Tiffanys Bridal store. She loved assisting brides with gowns and helping with wedding plans for many years.

After retiring from the bridal shop, Betty began working part time for Petersburg Tourism where she gave tours of many historic buildings. She loved conducting ghost tours at Centre Hill and Blandford Cemetery. Together, she and Dean also staffed the tourism desk at the Virginia Welcome Center.

Her life was never stagnant - she participated in three different bridge groups, two Garden Clubs where she took part in leadership roles, two book clubs, and was involved in two different supper clubs. She enjoyed being on the board for the historic Farmers' Bank in Petersburg, and helped with numerous community fund raising activities.

Betty was an active member of St. Marks United Methodist Church for many years, serving on numerous committees, including the alter guild and pastoral search committee.

Betty and Dean loved to travel, and together, visited all fifty states and at least 23 different countries. While her husband was involved in Rotary, they enjoyed attending conferences all over the country and abroad.

Betty is survived by their four children, Joyce Angell Cooper and husband, Gary, of Saylorsburg, PA, Janice Angell Poole and husband, Bert, of Virginia Beach, VA, Jayne Angell Blackwell and husband, John, of Port Allen, LA, and Dr. Burrel Dean Angell, Jr. and wife, Sally, of Houston, TX; as well as 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 225 Claremont Street, Petersburg, where a funeral service will take place at 11:00 AM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Petersburg Home for Ladies, St. Marks United Methodist Church or The Rotary Foundation.