Betty Lee McGraw, formerly of Galax, Virginia, passed away in The Villages, Florida on September 4, 2022, after severe complications from a fall.

Betty was born to Bernie and Goldie Brumfield in Griffithsville, West Virginia on January 11,1923.  Betty was a fiercely competitive player on the Duval High School women's basketball team where her team achieved the statewide women's championship.  She played clarinet in the Duval High School band, and after graduating in the Class of 1940, Betty completed the business curriculum at Strayer college in West Virginia.

After moving to Washington, D.C. in 1941, Betty served in a variety of administrative positions with the Washington, D.C. Public School system and the American Red Cross.

She married the late Robert J. Gath and together they raised 3 daughters.  In her later years, she married Harold ("Mac") McGraw in 1969. Together they forged ahead with their blended family of 8 children.

Betty and Mac enjoyed many wonderful years of retirement together in Galax, Virginia until his death in October 2013.  Betty was an avid golfer, member and past officer of the former Ladies Golf Association, and a longtime member of the Galax Presbyterian Church.

Betty was a woman ahead of her time. Betty's greatest professional challenge and crowning achievement was her 25-year career as a federal civil servant with the U.S. Department of the Navy.  She retired as the Ombudsman for the Oceanographer of the Navy.  She received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award which recognized her civilian service to be of high value and benefit to the Department of Navy.

Aside from her robust professional career serving top U.S. Navy personnel, Betty also ran a tight ship at home!  Her strength, determination, and gusto for life made her the last surviving child of Betty's entire family.  Her friends could always count on her to speak her mind.  All her children will always remember the years spent with their feisty, driven, headstrong, yet loving Mom.  Betty's maternal children included daughters Donna Crowley [deceased] (Mark), Debbie Lineberry (Billy), Dana McGee (Jim); also, three grandsons, Jacob, Joseph, and Jeremy [deceased] Lineberry.  Betty was also a strict but guiding and deeply caring Mom to Carroll Wilson, Tom McGraw (Margaret Burke), Linda Wilson [deceased], Bonnie Reeves (Ken), Michael McGraw, 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

For family members and friends who wish to express their sentiments in Betty's memory, a one-hour visitation will be held from 10AM until 11AM on Saturday August 26, 2023 at Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home (201 W. Center Street, Galax, Virginia, phone: 276-236-2442).

The visitation will immediately be followed by a brief burial at Felts Cemetery in Galax, with Dr. Tom Whartenby, Minister of the Galax Presbyterian Church, officiating.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers that donations kindly be made in Betty's memory to the Galax Presbyterian Church, (USPS Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2, Galax, 24333; Street Address 200 West Center Street, Galax, Virginia,  phone: 276-236-3147).

A guestbook is available for condolences at at http://www.legacy.com/link.asp?i=gb000205122727