Elizabeth “Betty” Willmarth Schmitz died Sunday, Sept. 2 at her home in Columbus.
Betty was born May 27, 1912 in Omaha, Neb. She was the daughter of Isabel Florence Chamberlin and Kenneth Lisle Willmarth. She was a fashion illustrator for Chicago newspapers. She loved to play the piano and take care of her birds.
In Glencoe, Ill., she married Leonard Stockwell Schmitz, who died in 1974. They had three children, Leonard Willmarth Schmitz, Steven Mathias Schmitz and Deborah Schmitz. She had two grandchildren, Gwendolyn Schmitz Loehr and Cameron Scott Schmitz, and four great-grandchildren, Henry Edward Loehr, Thomas Moses Loehr, Kaileigh Elizabeth Schmitz and Ethan Scott Schmitz.
She is survived by her brother, Kenneth Lisle Willmarth Jr., and her daughter, Deborah.  She was preceded in death by her sons, Leonard Willmarth and Steven Mathias Schmitz.
Betty was deeply loved by her family and will be remembered for her quick wit and love of life.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Foothills Equine Rescue Association, c/o Foothills Humane Society, 989 Little Mountain Road, Columbus, N.C. 28722.
An on-line guest register may be signed at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.