Ray, Diana and family, I am so sorry for the loss of your wife and mother. I very much appreciated all of the sharing about Betty at the funeral , her faith, modesty, steadfastness, love. She was described as I wanted to say but couldn't. I do want to let you know that many people have come up to me at work saying how sad they were, even the CEO of Valley Health went out of his way to offer his condolences. I started working with Betty many years ago in 2005. She was the per diem BLS instructor but I feel that she immediately took me under her wing and we became friends and team mates.. Betty had a special way about her that everyone who met her loved and respected. She had a way of teaching that is rare. She was very emphatic about ensuring that whoever she taught knew how to save someone's life. She did it in such a sweet southern way that even if they had to try and retry several times to get it right they never seemed to mind. Betty and I worked very closely together and she always helped me to make our training center goals. Often at her expense, like working on things at home and not putting in for pay for the time. I was always after her about that but she didn't want to mess the budget up. She was described at the funeral as a drill sargent and I like that description. She worked hard in our Training Center, first becoming Training Center faculty and working to improve the quality of all the BLS instructors that teach for us. She ensured that they met AHA standards of excellence. Then she became Regional Faculty for the state of Virginia travelling as far as Wytheville. She tried to coincide that with trips to Tennessee to see family. Ray was more than her partner he was also her manservant as he called himself. He drove her to these places. One time he took all of the Regional Faculty from our Training Center to Roanoke for a AHA training forum. That was quite a trip wasn't it Ray? We started working together to help meet AHA's goal of increasing people trained in CPR in the community to save lives. We got to go on a Seminar on this in Las Vegas. She again took me under her wing and made all the arrangements for our trip as I wasn't used to flying and she was with 2 pilots in the family. Actually 3 including Mark whom she loved very much. She felt that now she had a son along with a precious daughter whom she loved very much. Diana joined us in Las Vegas during that trip and I really enjoyed getting to know her and see the obvious love they had for each other. She definitely loved her family with all of her heard and she never let anything interfere with family or husband time. Ray I know she loved you beyond a shadow of a doubt as you did her. If she felt like work was keeping her away she would talk about seeing the sparkle in your eye dimming and we looked for ways that she could be with you more. She always saved you treats despite the fact they were chocolates or scones. She would even save half of her meal if we went out to eat. I am so thankful she retired to be with you more when she did(even though I missed her terribly). It was the right thing to do. I love you both and please let me know if I can ever do anything for you. Please keep in touch.

Betty was such a beautiful lady--"inside and out". I regret that I was out of town and unable to attend her funeral service. I was glad to read her obituary and find out more about her life. I always admired her and send love and sympathy to her family. She will be missed by many--a beautiful life..

Our thoughts and prayers are with you through this difficult time. Betty was so sweet and her smile always made a difficult day bright. She was a wonderful example of the ultimate professional nurse and dedication to patients through her teaching and support of staff. We are grateful for every life she touched and know that her efforts impacted her students and our patients a positive light. We are all better for knowing her. God Bless!

she is remembered for her dedication to teaching CPR

Dear Ray, Tonight at church I heard of Betty Rhea’s death. I am so very, very sorry for your loss. You and she were always the perfect students and the perfect couple. I have thought so often about the evening you flew Betty Rhea, Raymond Robertson, and me to dinner at the Nashville airport. What a unique experience and wonderful memory.

Ray, Dianna, and Mark, Steve and I were so sad to learn of Betty's passing. She will always be one of my best friends. We have such wonderful memories from nursing school and after. Betty, Chris, and I were like the 3 musketeers. We will always have wonderful memories of the things that we did together. I notified Chris of Betty's passing. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you. We all will have loving memories of Betty. In Christian Love, Deloris and Steve

Betty touched so many lives in her years of educating on CPR. Such a soft spoken and giving person. So enjoyed working with her. She will be missed. Prayers for the family.

Thinking of you, Ray and family. Betty was my UTCN roommate and wonderful friend. I will cherish those memories, her wonderful friendship, and her smile always. Bless you and family always.

Betty saved many lives through her dedication to teaching medical staff to perform CPR. She was such a wonderful woman.

Ray & Family I am so sorry for your loss. You & Betty are in my prayers. Betty will be missed.

So sorry. Prayers for you. We were in the same Class of 1968 UT College of Nursing. Betty was always smiling and so quiet in those 3 years in Memphis.

What a fortunate nurse I am to have worked with Betty and to have been trained by her various times over the last five years. Her smile and so much more will be missed...

In our thoughts and prayers.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.