Born July 2, 1927 in Bluefield, VA, she was the daughter of the late Sewell and Elsie (Ratcliff) Smith.

Mrs. Grove was a member of Gettysburg United Methodist Church for over thirty years. She was employed with the Bermudian Public School District for 16 years as a cafeteria worker until her retirement in 1991. Previously, Mrs. Grove served as the house mother at Scotland School for Veterans' Children. She was also employed at Dutchcraft which was where she met her husband.

Some of the greatest joys in Mrs. Grove's life were the times she spent traveling with her husband. She particularly enjoyed their trips to Europe, California, and the Caribbean. The couple also liked attending shows at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater, camping with the Gettysburg Wanderers Camping Club, and spending time at the ocean. She loved making friends wherever she went, and her outgoing personality will be missed.

Surviving, in addition to her husband, is her brother, Robert M. Smith of Gettysburg; two nieces, Deborah E. Horn and husband Martin of Gettysburg, and Kathy DeVine and husband Stephen of New Oxford; her great-niece, Sarah Horn of Gettysburg; two great-nephews, Matthew Horn of Red Lion, and Martin J. Horn of Gettysburg; and her great-great-nephew, Andrew Griffith of Red Lion. She was preceded in death by her step-son, William A. Grove.

The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, April 27, 2009 at Gettysburg United Methodist Church, 30 W. High St., Gettysburg, with Rev. Jay E. Zimmerman officiating. A viewing will be held between 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday at the Peters Funeral Home, 321 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. A second viewing will begin 10 a.m. Monday at church. Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery, Arendtsville.

Serving as pallbearers will be Martin B. Horn, Matthew S. Horn, Martin J. Horn, Dick Goulden, Robert Glatfelter, and Ronald Mundis.

To share memories of Mrs. Grove, please click on "Sign Guest Book" above.

A video tribute celebrating Mrs. Grove's life can be viewed by clicking the link below, then click the photo to play the tribute video. (Special Note: If you have firewall protection installed on your computer, it must be disabled in order to play the tribute.  Macintosh systems need Windows to use the tribute viewer).

Betty J. (Smith) Grove memorial video