Obituary for Betty Norene Ellington (Stewart)
Betty Norene (Stewart) Ellington, 87, of Oakland, MD, passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at Mon Health Medical Center, Morgantown, WV.
Born Ohiowa, NE, on August 29, 1935, she was the daughter of Owen Stewart and Margaret (Ball) Rippee; she was also preceded in death by her step-father, Azril “Jack” Rippee; a sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Paul Cousins and a brother, Richard “Buddy” Rippee and bother in law John Izak.
After a long civil service career, Betty retired from Voice of America in Washington DC in 1994. She was a
resident of Garrett County and a member of the Civic Club since moving from Virginia in 2000.
Betty was an active member of St Paul’s United Methodist Church, a member of the National Society of
the Daughters of the American Revolution, and numerous community activities including Civic Club of
Oakland. From 2002 to 2006 she served as co-president of the civic club. As president she spearheaded
a Dimes Walk America event for club members. For many years she also co-chaired the Autumn Glory
antique show, and took a major leadership role in the civics club’s charitable-giving program, Warm the
Children. Betty was a member of the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, serving on both the HR and executive
committee as well as the chair of the fundraising committee. She also served as president of the Garrett
County Lighthouse Inc. Board of Directors. Betty was named to the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame by
the Garrett County Commission for Women in 2011.
She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Troy Ellington; her children, Cynthia Gray and husband Jim Hoard, Kenneth Hess and wife, Becky and Gerald Ellington and wife, Yoshiko; grandchildren, Derek, Daniel, Ashley, Sara and Erika and 8 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Thurma Lea Triplett, Anne Basham (Bill), Mona Messenger, Dona Zuckerman (Larry) and Raylene Izak; a brother, Wally Steward (Sharon); beloved nieces, nephews and many, many friends.
A celebration of life service will be held July 15, 2023, at 11am at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 318 E Oak Street, Oakland, MD 21550. A fellowship lunch will be held after the service in the church hall.
Expressions of sympathy may be directed to the Garrett County Lighthouse, Inc., 20 E. Oak St., Oakland, MD, 21550.
Condolences for her family may be directed to www.newmanfuneralhomes.com.
Born Ohiowa, NE, on August 29, 1935, she was the daughter of Owen Stewart and Margaret (Ball) Rippee; she was also preceded in death by her step-father, Azril “Jack” Rippee; a sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Paul Cousins and a brother, Richard “Buddy” Rippee and bother in law John Izak.
After a long civil service career, Betty retired from Voice of America in Washington DC in 1994. She was a
resident of Garrett County and a member of the Civic Club since moving from Virginia in 2000.
Betty was an active member of St Paul’s United Methodist Church, a member of the National Society of
the Daughters of the American Revolution, and numerous community activities including Civic Club of
Oakland. From 2002 to 2006 she served as co-president of the civic club. As president she spearheaded
a Dimes Walk America event for club members. For many years she also co-chaired the Autumn Glory
antique show, and took a major leadership role in the civics club’s charitable-giving program, Warm the
Children. Betty was a member of the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, serving on both the HR and executive
committee as well as the chair of the fundraising committee. She also served as president of the Garrett
County Lighthouse Inc. Board of Directors. Betty was named to the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame by
the Garrett County Commission for Women in 2011.
She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Troy Ellington; her children, Cynthia Gray and husband Jim Hoard, Kenneth Hess and wife, Becky and Gerald Ellington and wife, Yoshiko; grandchildren, Derek, Daniel, Ashley, Sara and Erika and 8 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Thurma Lea Triplett, Anne Basham (Bill), Mona Messenger, Dona Zuckerman (Larry) and Raylene Izak; a brother, Wally Steward (Sharon); beloved nieces, nephews and many, many friends.
A celebration of life service will be held July 15, 2023, at 11am at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 318 E Oak Street, Oakland, MD 21550. A fellowship lunch will be held after the service in the church hall.
Expressions of sympathy may be directed to the Garrett County Lighthouse, Inc., 20 E. Oak St., Oakland, MD, 21550.
Condolences for her family may be directed to www.newmanfuneralhomes.com.