Mrs. Betty Elaine (Smith) Bramlett, 79, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2022, at her beloved home in Onancock, surrounded by her loving family.
Betty was born in Alexandria, Va., on Feb. 25, 1943, a daughter to the late Wilma (Harris, Smith) Garth and the late Staff Sgt. James T. Smith Jr., U.S. Army (KIA). She graduated from George Washington High School in Alexandria and attended Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University) and later, California State University, San Bernardino, Calif.
She met her husband of 48 years, Rick, while working in the Pentagon. Through Rick’s Air Force service, they enjoyed living in Virginia, California, Maryland, Belgium, and Germany. Betty was involved with the Officers’ Wives Clubs and often recalled what a wonderful time they had living in Europe.
In addition to living many places, Betty loved to travel. Some of her favorite vacations were as close as Williamsburg, Va., and as far away as the Galapagos Islands, and Maui, Hawaii, where she paraglided in 2012.
Betty loved living on the Eastern Shore since making Onancock home in 1993. She worked for many years at What’s Your Fancy in Parksley and Broadwater Academy in Exmore. She cherished her friendships and activities with Ye Accomacke Garden Club and her bridge club.
Betty lived her life to the fullest. She loved shopping for anything from antiques to clothes to knickknacks. She had an incredible ability to find thoughtful gifts as well as unique and beautiful treasures at auctions and in antique stores and markets.
She loved good food and beverages, from mussels at Chez Léon in Brussels to pub food at the Blarney Stone in Onancock; from a cold Budweiser or chilled white wine to scotch. She was a talented cook and baker. She made countless cookies with her children and grandchildren, and everyone has a favorite “Betty recipe.”
Betty’s artistic and creative talents showed over the years through her painting, knitting, sewing, quilting, gardening, floral arranging, and more. She was also talented at home design and decorating, skills that went well with her love for throwing parties. She made sure that all of life’s important moments got the celebrations they deserved, ensuring that her family and friends have many happy memories of their time with her.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents as well as her sister, Wilma Lynn LaBatte.
She is survived by husband, Lt. Col. Rick Bramlett, USAF (ret.); sister, Annie Brown (Cleveland), of Alexandria; and children, Amy Grose (Larry), of Lorton, Va., Abby Kenerly (Bill), of Greenville, N.C., and Matthew Bramlett (Rebecca), of Durham, N.C. She loved being “Grandma” to her grandchildren, Molly Anthony (Joshua), Mason Grose, Will and Paige Kenerly, and Myer Bramlett, and her great-grandchildren, Parkis and Avery Anthony.
Interment in a U.S. national cemetery is being arranged, details of which will be shared with family and friends when they are known.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be sent to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, 8815 Conroy Windermere Road, Suite 309, Orlando, FL 32835, or online at https://www.helpfightra.org/
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
