Betty Martin Henry, 87, passed away quietly on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 at her Commonwealth Senior Living residence. She had been a resident at Commonwealth since 2014 when she and her husband, Dolphus E. Henry, moved from their home of 50 years on Hickory Road in Radford.
Betty was born in Radford, Virginia to John Edgar and Noblin Brooks Martin. She graduated from Radford High School in 1948, married Dolphus E. Henry, Jr. on July 28, 1949 in Radford, Virginia, and continued her education. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science from Radford University and the Doctor of Education from Virginia Tech in 1977.
Betty worked for 33 years in the Radford City school system. She began as a 3rd grade classroom teacher at Belle Heath Elementary School. She soon progressed in her career to Learning Disabilities Coordinator, McHarg Elementary principal and, finally, Belle Heath Elementary School principal. Throughout her career, she was active in the Virginia Elementary School Principals Association and served as its president from 1985 to 1986.
Both Betty and Dolph Henry were proud supporters of Radford University where they endowed a scholarship in the Visual and Performing Arts.
Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Dolphus E. Henry, Jr.; her son and daughter-in-law, Dolphus E. Henry III and Judith, of Asheville, N.C.; and her granddaughter, Jessica H. and husband John P. Thrasher, Jr. of San Francisco, Calif.
The family received friends from Sept. 18, 2017 at the Mullins Funeral Home in Radford. Funeral were officiated by Dr. Paul Lane and entombment folowed at Highland Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Dublin.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that contributions may be sent in her memory to Medi Home Health and Hospice.
The Henry family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.
