Betty Jean Rasnick Gillespie, 84, of Charleston, passed away Tuesday night, Sept. 16, 2014, at
CAMC Memorial Hospital. She was born May 1, 1930, to Allen and Clara Leota Counts Rasnick in
Kingston. Her father was a popular mine foreman who moved several times. Betty grew up
primarily in Jerryville and graduated from Webster Springs High School in 1948. Her advanced
education was interrupted by having to return home to provide daily care for her sick mother.
On Dec. 3, 1950, she married William H. Gillespie and moved to Morgantown, where he was in
Forestry School, and more than earned a PHT degree - "Putting Husband Through" undergraduate
and graduate school. Betty, as all those familiar know, was a vital part of her husband's various positions as college professor, assistant agriculture commissioner, state forester and as a
professional consultant in his fields. Their first child, William Allen, a physician in New York City,
was born Sept. 22, 1951. This was followed by Linda Marlene, now deceased, an elementary
mathematics teacher in Kanawha County Schools, born Dec. 16, 1952; Clifton Paul, a computer
specialist in Harrisburg, Pa., born June 18, 1955; James David, deceased by accident at age 14, born
Aug. 4, 1960; and Laura Lee, a physical therapist in Raleigh, N.C., born Sept. 10, 1961. Four of the
children have presented the family with eight grandchildren and there are now 13 great-
grandchildren.
Betty was one of 10 children. She was preceded in death by three sisters and one brother who died
as infants: Hazel Fredrick Snyder who passed in 1964, Mabel in 1938 and Virginia in 1937. She is
survived by sisters, Clara Lee Neal of Alexandria, Va., and Billie Agnes Maul of Shinnston, and
their families of nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and -nephews.
Once Betty had her family nearly raised, she returned to school and became a licensed practical
nurse working on OB-GYN at Charleston Area Medical Center for 10 years, followed by an
additional 10 years at Thomas Memorial Hospital. She retired from both, after which she supported
her husband Bill's consulting business.
Memorial service to celebrate Betty's life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Dodd &
Reed Funeral Home, Webster Springs. Interment will follow in Miller Cemetery, Webster Springs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to your local cancer fund of
your choice.
