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Betty Jean
Tipsword (Seybert)

December 13, 1931 – December 13, 2018

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Betty Tipsword
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Obituary for Betty Jean Tipsword (Seybert)

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Betty Jean Tipsword, 87, of Blacksburg, passed away December 13, 2018 at Warm Hearth Village.
She was born December 13, 1931 in Hillsboro, Illinois. Betty completed her Bachelor’s degree in Education at Eastern Illinois State University. While in college she met Ray Tipsword, and they were married on August 23, 1952. She held various teaching positions at elementary schools prior to starting a family. They moved to Blacksburg with their two children when her husband accepted a position at Virginia Tech. Betty returned to teaching at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School when her son started college. She taught Title I, which helped students with challenges in reading improve their reading skills. She was popular with her students and many times would hear “Mrs. Tipsword, Mrs. Tipsword” shouted across a store or parking lot so they could come give her a hug. She retired from teaching in 1987. Betty was active in the Women’s Club and participated in the organization until a few years before her death.
Having grown up poor she became active in the Montgomery County Christmas Store by buying used dolls at yard sales, cleaning them up, and sewing them new outfits because she felt that “every little girl should have a doll.” Her little enterprise grew when she found another elf (Marie) to help her. They collected dolls, doll clothes, doll shoes, stuffed toys, and books to clean and repair for the used section of the Christmas Store. They frequently matched toys with books to encourage children to read. During the peak years she contributed 500+ items to the Christmas Store. She stored the items in boxes she received from Kroger. She cut holes in them for handles adding to their convenience. The boxes which were stackable became a mainstay in the used Toy Department of the Christmas Store. The store used the “Betty Box” as a measure of unit to keep track of inventory. After 30 years of contributions, she retired as “The Doll Lady” when she moved to Warm Heart Village in 2017.
Betty is proceeded in death by her husband Ray, and her parents Newt and Evelena Seybert. She is survived by her son Stephen Ray Tipsword of Blacksburg, and daughter Pamela Jean Tipsword and son-in-law Mel Goldsten of North Myrtle Beach, SC. Other close relatives include Nancy Cobetto of Springfield, Ill.
The family thanks her generous Laurel Ridge neighbors whose help allowed her to stay on “her mountain” as long as possible, and her caretaker Loretta whom she thought of as her sister.
A memorial service will held at 2PM, Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Montgomery County Christmas Store 30 W. Main St. Christiansburg, VA 24073. In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to the Montgomery County Christmas Store. An online guest book is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.

Service Information

When
Saturday, June 15th, 2019 2:00pm
Location
Montgomery County Christmas Store
Address
30 W. Main St.
Christiansburg, Virginia 24073
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