Betty Burns
September 15, 1924 — January 29, 2017
Betty Burns (Myrtle Elizabeth Wilcox), formerly of Potomac MD, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2017 at Heartfields Assisted Living in Frederick, MD, where she resided for the past five years. She was the wife of the late CAPT William (Bill) L. Burns, USN of Eastman, GA.
Born in East Falls, Philadelphia, PA on September 15, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Myrtle (Smith) and Charles Wilcox. She was raised in East Falls and attended Roxborough High School. Betty met Bill in Atlantic City, NJ where he was on liberty from his ship, and they married on June 3, 1944 in Philadelphia, PA.
Betty was an active, resilient and resourceful Navy wife. Not only was she a master at moving and creating a new home for the family every few years, she also continued to explore and practice new talents as well as being involved in church and other community activities wherever she lived. She was an accomplished singer, painter and one of the first to teach yoga in the Potomac, MD area. She lived in Hawaii, Maine, the Philippines, Philadelphia, Japan, and Germany, but spent most of her life in and around Potomac, MD. She was an active member of Faith United Methodist Church in Rockville, MD, where she created, implemented, and managed the Senior Citizen Program. She was a member of the Society of Decorative Painters.
Betty is survived by her two daughters Elizabeth Marcus of Newburyport MA and Nanette Clark and husband Bob Clark of Middletown MD; five grandchildren Erica Marcus and husband Micah Burger of Portland ME, Jeff Marcus of Boston MA, Laura Huff and fiancé Noah Kallish of Laurel MD, Robert Clark and wife Abby Greenwell of Mt. Rainer MD, and Sara Clark of Middletown MD; and two great-grandchildren Autumn and Bennett Greenwell-Clark. She was the sister of Lois Wilcox Curran and the late Clifford Wilcox; aunt of Kristen (Rapsher) Husiam and husband John Husaim, Bruce Rapsher and wife Ellen (Wilcox) Rapsher, and Glenn Wilcox.
Services will be private.
Memorial donations may be made in Mrs.Burns name to Heartfields of Frederick, Latham Drive, Frederick MD to support their arts program.