Obituary - Betty Pugh Schmick

Betty Pugh Schmick, 92, of Sandston, passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mamie Cluff Pugh and Joseph Neal Pugh; sisters, Carrie Webb (Carlton “Tex”), Alice Lumsden (Roy), Jane Brown (Tommy), Helen “Song” Neal, Peggy Schmick (Victor); and brothers, Joe (Ethel), Fred (Emma).

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Rev. Dr. Victor L. Schmick; children, Jonathan Tyler Schmick Sr. (Phyllis), Joel Burton Schmick (Jennifer); grandchildren, Jonathan Tyler Schmick Jr., Peyton Schmick, Gordon Schmick, Amanda Donovan (Will), Hailey Schmick; and great grandchildren, Kenley, Jackson, Penny.

Betty was born and raised in Orange, Va. and married Victor in 1957 before moving to Springfield, IL to attend Concordia Seminary where she gave birth to Jonathan. Upon ordination, the Schmicks moved to Edmonton, Alberta Canada to serve at Christ the King Lutheran Church and adopted Joel.

In 1967, the Schmicks were called to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Richmond, serving there until Vic’s retirement in 1995. While at St. Paul, Betty taught the Special Education Sunday School class, served on the Alter Guild, and participated in The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, the Voters Committee, and the Quilters Group. A lifelong volunteer, Betty raised funds for the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Lutheran World Relief, and the Henrico County Rescue Squad. For over 20 years, Betty volunteered weekly at Richmond Metropolitan Hospital, and afterwards at Highland Springs Elementary School.

Betty traveled throughout the United States as well as Germany and Austria; even more cherished were the annual family vacations and reunions spent with Vic, Jonathan, and Joel along with her mother, brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces on the Potomac River at Fairview Beach or with Vic’s parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 28, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, Va. 23231. Betty will be laid to rest with a graveside service on Friday, July 29, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. in Graham Cemetery, 14191 Constitution Hwy., Orange, Va. 22960.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Lutheran World Relief, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Trinity Lutheran Church, or Orange Baptist Church.