Dr. Betty Pingley McCartney, 89, formerly of Morgantown, passed away following a short illness Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, at Bethany House, in Auburn, Ala., with her family by her side.
Betty Jewel Pingley was born April 20, 1929, in Elkins, the youngest daughter of the late John Nelson and Margaret Elizabeth (Caplinger) Pingley.
On Sept. 22, 1954, she was united in marriage to Charles “Jack” Crickard. Several years after Mr. Crickard’s death, she married Dr. Hunter Pell McCartney on Nov. 21, 1998.
She is survived by her daughter, Jenny and son-in-law, Emery Tschetter, of Auburn; granddaughter, Hailey Betty, who was named for her. Betty moved from Morgantown to Auburn to be near her family.
She is also survived by stepson, Jim (Meg) McCartney, of Morgantown; stepdaughter, Debby McCartney, of Morgantown; one sister-in-law, Phyllis Pingley, of Elkins; nieces, Brenda Anderson, of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Jo Ellen Toothman, of Charlestown, Nancy Fouts and husband, Arnold, of Mount Perry, Ohio; and nephews, Wayne Kennedy, of Elkins, and Waldo Abbot, of Greenwich, Conn.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Hunter; three brothers, Robert (Thelma) Pingley and Owen (Phyllis) Pingley and Austin (Lenore); two sisters, Neva (Waldo) Abbott, Cleo “Brownie” Kennedy; one niece, Margaret Combo; and one nephew, Bobby Pingley.
Betty graduated from Berea College in 1951, with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics and dietetics. She earned a master of education in human development from the University of Maryland in 1955; and a Ph.D in educational administration from Walden University in 1974; with additional studies at West Virginia University, Colorado State University, Marshall University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture graduate school.
She worked for West Virginia University Extension for 39 years. Betty served as an Extension 4-H agent and home economics agent in Randolph, Upshur and Cabell counties. At state level, she led Extension Home Economics and 4-H programs.
Upon retirement, she was designated a West Virginia University Professor Emeritus of Extension. She authored numerous publications and manuscripts related to leadership development, management and Appalachian culture and values. During her career, she directed the Mountain Heritage program of the West Virginia Extension Service. It was recognized in 1974 as the top cultural education program of all land grant universities in the nation. Betty served on the West Virginia 4-H Club Foundation Board, National 4-H Advisory Committee and Dorsey Resource Center 4-H Advisory Committee.
She served on the National Task Force on World Hunger, the W.K. Kellogg Committee for Food, Health and Agriculture, the West Virginia Volunteerism Steering Committee, and was appointed to the West Virginia Governor’s Task Force on Families. She chaired the Northeast Regional Administrators of Home Economics and served on the Mountain State Art and Crafts Board of Directors.
She was honored as a National 4-H Fellow, was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award and selected as a National Fellow of the National Association of Home Economists. Professional memberships include, Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture and Epsilon Sigma Phi.
For more than two decades following her retirement, she was active in the Morgantown Meals on Wheels, serving as a volunteer, board member and president. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, in Morgantown, and served as an elder and member of the Westminister Foundation Board for the Presbyterian Campus Ministry. She co-chaired the Presbyterian Church Congregational Building Fund Campaign, chaired the Church Personnel Committee and served on the Institutional Ministry Committee of the Presbytery of West Virginia.
Betty served as president of the Monongahela Garden Club and the Present Day Club. She helped establish and taught classes for Appalachian Lifelong Learners. An avid traveler, Betty and Hunter participated in Elderhostel programs in China, England, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico and Italy. Her spare moments were filled with games of bridge, friends and antiques.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date.
Condolences:
jeffcoattrant.com
