Elizabeth Warden Boteler, of Middleburg, Va., affectionately known as Betty, passed away on Jan. 16, 2015 of congestive heart failure.
Elizabeth Vandegrift Warden was born July 1, 1923, in Washington, D.C., to Elizabeth Withers Vandergrift and Robert Bruce Warden. The eldest of three sisters, Betty attended National Cathedral School for Girls. During World War II, Betty worked at Washington’s NBC Network station WRC, and married fellow Washingtonian George Gittings Boteler on Oct. 9, 1948. The couple moved to Middleburg in 1958 where they resided for the next 56 years.
As owner of Middleburg’s beloved Grey Goose Book Store, which she opened in 1963, Betty hosted book signings for writers such as Jane McIlvaine McClary, author of “The Will To Win” and “A Portion for Foxes,” and Erica Wallach, author of “Light at Midnight.” Betty’s local business acumen led to a lifelong interest in area real estate. She began her brokerage career with Eugene O’Connor Real Estate, eventually opening her own firm, Boteler Associates Real Estate in 1980.
Betty was a past president of the Loudoun County Board of Realtors, and in 2001 at the age of 78, was top sales person at Armfield, Miller and Ripley Real Estate. Betty was an avid gardener, winning numerous awards for her iris.
In later years, Betty and George traveled at every opportunity to England, Scotland, France, Spain, Austria and Italy. She was a past member of the Middleburg Tennis Club and Middleburg Garden Club.
In addition to her beloved husband of 66 years, Betty is survived by her sister, Martha Page Warden of Williamsburg; son, George Gordon Boteler (Saralee) of Alexandria; daughters, Katharine Boteler-Holl of Middleburg, and Cynthia Nelson Boteler of Warm Springs; three grandsons, Charles Baltimore Calvert, Robert Nelson Calvert and Robert Gerhard Holl; granddaughter, Christine Katrin Holl, and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her daughter, Elizabeth Bruce Calvert, and sister, Patricia Otey Warden.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Association or Blue Ridge Hospice of Winchester, Va.
A memorial service will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg.
Funeral arrangements are by Royston Funeral Home, Middleburg.