Betty Boone Harville

On Wednesday, January 27th, 2021, we lost our dear Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Sister, Betty Boone Harville. Betty passed away at the age of 85 while fighting COVID-19 at North Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, GA. 

Betty Lou Boone was born on January 12, 1936 in Winston-Salem, NC, to Merlin & Christine Whitfield Boone. Betty had two younger brothers, Tommy Lee Boone (d. 2011) and Johnny Wayne Boone.

In 1949, Betty met her soulmate Paul “Butch” Harville at a Haynes High School football game. The eve of their first date, Butch was so nervous, he took his car apart so he could claim car trouble and miss the date. His friends did not fall for that; they picked the shy 16-year-old up and dropped him off at Betty’s doorstep. Dad said Mom was sitting on the porch, rocking in a rocking chair, and waiting patiently for him. 

Three years later, September 5, 1952, Betty and Butch married and started their lives together. The first nine years of their marriage were filled with Butch’s service in the Army as Betty worked at Hanes Hosiery, Winston-Salem. Once discharged, Butch became a Draftsman with Bell Labs. They did not have a lot of money and they ate a lot of peanut butter during these years to make it through to the next paycheck. You will still find a jar of peanut butter in our pantries in honor of our Father’s wishes to always have a jar in the house.

Betty and Butch welcomed their first daughter, Terri Leigh Harville, in 1961 while living in Pfafftown, NC. Three years later, Jennifer Elizabeth Harville was born while Butch and Betty lived in El Paso, TX. Betty was a full time Mother during these years and made clothes for the girls while Butch was working at the White Sands Missile Range as a Bell Labs contractor.

Upon return to Winston-Salem, NC in 1968, Betty received her Business certificate and started working full time. She worked for the Candor Company in Winston-Salem, NC as an administrative assistant. When Betty arrived home after work, she would blow her car horn to let the girls know it was time to come in for dinner.

In 1972, Betty and Butch relocated to Lilburn, GA, in metro-Atlanta. This was known as the “Bruce Way House” and many people remember fun times in the Bruce Way Kitchen and on the Bruce Way Screened Porch. Betty worked for ACCO in Norcross, GA and Shepherd Niles in Tucker, GA. Every year she would save “Vacation Money” and the family would all climb into their cars and head to Holden Beach, NC for a week of vacation. We met our aunts, uncles, and cousins for mini-family reunions. These times are remembered fondly in our family, dancing on the beach house deck while Uncle Tommy played guitar. Good times my friends.

Betty and Butch retired to Holden Beach in 1997. Jenny & Lee followed a couple years later so the Boylston Boys could grow up near their grandparents. Never one to lay around on the beach, Betty worked at Holden Beach Vacations as a Receptionist. She loved meeting and talking to the families as they came to pick up their vacation house keys or help them solve problems. She said people are always happiest when they were on vacation and she enjoyed sharing that feeling.

Betty and our family lost Butch in 2009, while living in Lockwood Folly, NC, near Holden Beach. She enjoyed the years after his passing playing bridge, lunching with her friends, and attending Sharon Methodist Church in Supply, NC. In 2018, Betty chose to live her last chapter in the North Georgia Mountains in Gainesville and Dahlonega, GA, near Terri & Jeff.

Betty is survived by her children, Terri Adams (Jeff) of Dahlonega, GA and Jennifer Boylston (Lee) of Louisville, KY; her grandchildren, Ben Boylston (Nicky Lam) of Louisville, KY and Chris Boylston (Tara) of Melbourne, FL; her great-grandchild, Rowan Paul Boylston of Melbourne, FL; her siblings, Faye Boone of Pfafftown, NC and Johnny Boone of Winston-Salem, NC; her nieces, Donna Haynes of Mocksville, NC, Sandy Haynes Rockett of Mocksville, NC, Debra Boone Hall of Winston-Salem and Stephanie Steinbeck of Holden Beach, NC; nephews Chuck (Vicki) and Scott O’Quinn of Durham, NC plusnumerous cousins and friends.

Due to COVID-19, there will be no formal Memorial Service. The family plans to take Betty’s and Butch’s ashes back to Holden Beach, NC one day. We encourage you to share your memories on Betty’s Facebook Page. 

Betty was a wonderfully kind person. Her notes of love and encouragement have been received by many and will always be remembered. Being sharp as a tack, she always carried a crossword puzzle and never met a stranger!

Arrangements by Dahlonega Funeral Home