Obituary of Betsy Grunwell

Betsy Santelmann Grunwell, 78, of Lynchburg, died January 7th at Lynchburg General Hospital. She was the devoted wife of the late Robert (Bob) Lockwood Grunwell and loving mother of three children and affectionate grandmother of five grandchildren. Born May 28, 1931, in Washington, D.C., Betsy was the youngest of two children of the late Lt. Col. William F. Santelmann and Margaret R. Santelmann. Betsy attended the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C. Originally she was thinking of going into performing as a pianist and had been accepted at Julliard School of Music, but decided that a life of performing was not what she wanted. She took a secretarial course which gave her the background to work at M.T. Broyhill & Sons, in their insurance division. She met Bob and they married in 1955 and lived in Springfield, VA. When Bob had an accident that forced him to leave his job, they moved to Lynchburg, VA in 1963. She was a strong supporter and at times joint member of the groups Bob was associated with, helping with the Virginia Island Sailing Association, the United States Power Squadron, the Exchange Club of Lynchburg, and the Lynchburg Civil War Roundtable. She was a member of the Exchangets and a long time member and historian of the Lynchburg Suburban Woman?s Club. Betsy loved to play bridge and belonged to two bridge groups and occasionally substituted for the Rivermont Senior Center. She is survived by her son Randall (Randy), his wife Robin, their children Chris and Lisa of Suwanee, GA; her eldest daughter Sharon (Grunwell) Jennings, her husband Bill, their children Kathleen, Rob, and Sarah of Lynchburg, VA; and her youngest daughter Margaret of Lynchburg, VA, as well as her brother William F. Santelmann, Jr., sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, many nieces, nephews and their children. A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Diuguid Wiggington Road Chapel with the Rev. Meggan Farwell officiating. The family will recieve friends Friday evening , January 15, 2009 from 7-8:30 P.M. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Spring Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation. P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal. VA 24528 or the Lynchburg Life Saving Crew, P.O. Box 675, Lynchburg, VA 24505-0675. Diuguid Funeral Service-Wiggington Road Chapel ( 385-8900 ) is serving the family.