Betsy Pharr Kuehn

Mary Betsy Pharr Kuehn, of Cary, NC, and formerly of Linthicum, MD, beloved wife of the late Howard S. Kuehn, fell into a peaceful sleep in her Lord Jesus’s arms on May 1, 2018. Betsy was born in Waynesboro, VA, on October 30, 1928, and spent her early years there. She graduated in 1949 from University of Virginia Hospital School of Nursing. She then worked as a nurse at the Hospital of the Women of Maryland, the Johns Hopkins Orthopedic Clinic in Baltimore and in her favorite job as a Visiting Nurse in Washington, D.C.

After her marriage in 1957, Betsy raised her family in Linthicum, Maryland, and she volunteered for numerous organizations. She was a volunteer at the Lutheran Mission Society in Baltimore, MD, for numerous years, and she continued to sponsor their Portals of Prayers distributions until her passing, as did her husband and father-in-law before her. She volunteered for 18 years for Planned Parenthood of Maryland, teaching family and reproductive health classes. Betsy was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Glen Burnie MD, where she was a Senior Choir member, Altar Guild member, Bell Choir ringer, and was a long time Stephen’s Minister. For more than 15 years she was chairman of the church savings program that is today called the Lutheran Church Extension Fund; where, in addition to leading the savings program at St. Paul’s, she traveled throughout the LCMS Southeastern District giving talks and assisting other churches in setting up their own savings programs. In her last 10 years in MD, Betsy volunteered for NCEON, the North County Emergency Outreach Network - Glen Burnie, where she prepared food baskets and interviewed clients to determine their eligibility for food and emergency funds for heat or other similar needs.

Betsy and her husband enjoyed extensive travel all over the world during their retirement years. She loved seeing so many new places and people, but the place that touched her the most was her trip to China, because childhood family missionary friends served in China. She often said that as a child she just could never have imagined that one day she could be there.

In 2010 Betsy relocated to Cary, NC, where she became a charter resident of Waltonwood Senior Living Center. She met many new friends at Waltonwood, she continued her volunteer activities in food pantries from there in her first NC years. Betsy became a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary during these years.

All who know Betsy remember her for her infectious and joyous laughter. Whenever anyone speaks of Betsy, the first thing they mention is her laugh.

Betsy’s heart was for the Lord Jesus and for prayer. Her gift to her friends and most importantly to her family was her leadership in prayer. Her first thought in any situation was always for prayer to her Lord and Savior.

Betsy is survived by her precious great-grandson, Milton David Meeder, of Gales Ferry, CT; her three beloved grand-children, Joshua Meeder and wife, Allison of Gales Ferry, CT, Matthew Meeder and wife, Manola of Mystic, CT, and Michelle Meeder and fiancé, John Ojard of Jacksonville, FL; her daughters, Dorothy Kuehn Faurot and husband, Glenn of Raleigh, NC, Ellie Kuehn Meeder and husband, Dan of Norrisville, MD; and son Paul Kuehn and partner, George Appleby of Hamden, CT; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

Services will be held at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 100 W Lochmere Drive, Cary, NC, 27518, at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Viewing and family visitation will be held just ahead of the service at 10:30 am.

Graveside interment service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 1 pm at St. Paul’s Cemetery, 1022 Joh Avenue, Violetteville, Baltimore, MD, 21229.

Memorials may be sent to the Stephen’s Ministry Fund at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 308 Oak Manor Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061.