Bettie J. Porterfield
Bettie Jane Porterfield, 89, entered the loving arms of our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021 at Our Lady of the Valley in Roanoke, VA where she had resided since October 2021. She is preceded in death by her husband (and life-long best friend), David W. Porterfield, Sr., who passed away in May 2013. Daughter of the late Claude M. and Alice R. Newkirk, she was born April 8, 1932 in Hedgesville, WV.
Bettie was a graduate of Hedgesville High School and Shepherd University. During her teaching career, she taught P.E. in Richmond, VA and P.E. and English at Martinsburg High School. In 1968, she became a full-time homemaker managing a full house of six children until moving to Atlanta, GA with her husband, David, in 1986. They retired to Ocala, FL upon David’s retirement in 1997. Bettie moved back to Martinsburg in 2016.
Avidly involved in church her entire life, Bettie was a life-long member of Falling Waters Presbyterian Church in Spring Mills, WV. She was also a parishioner of Buford Presbyterian (in the Atlanta area) and Countryside Presbyterian Church (in Ocala, FL). At Falling Waters Presbyterian Church, Bettie acted as Choir Director for many years, taught Bible School, and organized countless music and church activities. She was an advocate of preserving the history of the church and was an amateur expert on the history of the Hedgesville/Spring Mills/Berkeley County areas. Bettie also loved to sew, and she made clothing and other cloth goods for many charitable organizations.
Bettie is survived by her children David Dinsmore and wife Donna of Richardson, TX and Jane Porterfield of Atlanta, GA and stepchildren Lisa Spickler and husband Tim of Myersville, MD; David W. Porterfield, Jr. of Daleville, VA; Diane Kees and husband Don of Troutville, VA; and Cara Hubbard and husband Ralph Horne of Salem, VA. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Dana Dinsmore, Darbianna Dinsmore, Dawson Dinsmore, Amanda Helfrick (Dan), Brenna Spickler (Andrew Markle), Nathan Kees (Barbara), Aaron Kees (Danielle), Anica Guthrie, Joel Kees, Geoffrey Hubbard, and Justin Hubbard (Maddy Guzak) and eight great grandchildren. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces including nephew Kirk Chambers and niece Barbara Starliper (Fred) who helped with care in her later years. In addition to her husband, Bettie was also predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law Joan and Larry Chambers and nephew Kirk’s wife, Deborah Chambers.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Falling Waters Presbyterian Church General Fund (Music Program), 2928 Hammonds Mill Road, Hedgesville, WV 25427.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 at Brown Funeral Home, with services 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 at Falling Waters Presbyterian Church in Spring Mills; interment directly following at the Falling Waters Cemetery.
Arrangements by Brown Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be offered at www.BrownFuneralHomesWV.com.