Betty DeVos

Betty DeVos, 87, of Chambersburg, PA, passed away Sunday, April 17, 2016 in the Chambersburg Hospital. Born January 28, 1929 in Holland, she was a daughter of the late James and Florence Wielinga Terpstra. She immigrated to the United States with her family in 1929 and was a 1946 graduate of the Hawthorne High School in Hawthorne, NJ. Prior to marriage was employed as a business secretary and with AAA in Manhattan, NY. She and her husband, Peter DeVos, whom she married April 8, 1950, incorporated Maple Shade Farms of Housatonic, MA and over the course of twenty-five years they processed, bottled, and delivered milk to the community. Peter preceded her in death on February 16, 2005. She was a member of Crider’s United Brethren Church in Chambersburg where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school and a former member of the Housatonic Congregational Church in Housatonic, MA and St. Paul United Methodist Church in Chambersburg where she taught Sunday school for twelve years and was active with the United Methodist Women. Mrs. DeVos was an avid reader; loved gardening, sewing, swimming, bird watching, and puzzles. She also enjoyed bowling with the Thursday Night Mixed League and the AARP bowling league at Lincoln Lanes. She was passionate throughout her lifetime about helping others in need and for more than four decades supported World Vision children, across the globe.

She is survived by six children, Eileen Harris of Springfield, MA, James DeVos of Pittsburg, CA, Laura Hawbaker and husband Nathan of Chambersburg, Steven DeVos and wife Anna of Greencastle, Sheila Smith and husband Benjamin of Feeding Hills, MA, and Peter A. and wife Pat DeVos of Greencastle; fifteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; her brother, August Terpstra of Schnecksville, PA; and two sisters, Ida Hempel of Red Hook, NY and Rae Barry of Middletown, NY. She is also survived by her sister-in-law and cousin, Mildred (Terpstra) DeVos of Lenox, MA. During her later years she was lovingly cared for by Nancy Norwood, granddaughter Amber DeVos, and great-grandson Elliott DeVos. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, and four sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, April 21, 2016 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Ronald Cook will officiate. Interment will follow at Norland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM Wednesday and from 9:00-10:00 AM Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Crider’s United Brethren Church Building Fund, 2380 Loudon Road, Chambersburg, PA 17202.