Betty 'Rusty' Abbey Shadel

Betty “Rusty” Abbey Shadel died peacefully surrounded by her family Sunday, October 9, 2016, in Blacksburg, Virginia. She was born at her grandmother’s home in Naples, New York, on February 18, 1926. Rusty grew up in Niagara Falls and enjoyed summers with cousins at “Blake Acres” on Lake Canandaigua. She graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio in 1948 with a degree in Business with minors in Accounting and Mathematics. On August 28, 1948, she married World War II veteran, Charles “Chuck” Shadel in Niagara Falls, New York. Chuck and Rusty were long time residents of South Burlington, Vermont where Rusty was active in various weaving groups and attended the First United Methodist Church in Burlington. In 2010, they moved to Christiansburg, Virginia, to be near family. They attend the St. Paul United Methodist Church where they have many friends.

Rusty was preceded in death by her parents, B. Gregg and Elsie (Blake) Abbey; and her sister, Janet Engel. She leaves behind her husband, Charles H. Shadel; two sons, Gregg (Bonnie) Shadel of Christiansburg, VA and Derrick (Peggy) Shadel of Salt Lake City, UT; another sister Ginger Trautwein of Orchard Park, NY; seven grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Paul United Methodist Church, 220 Main Street, Christiansburg, VA.