Obituaries

Rev. Elizabeth Ann “Bette” Wirtz, 75

April 09, 2014

Rev. Elizabeth Ann “Bette” Wirtz, 75, of Brethren Village Terrace Crossings, Lititz, formerly of Neffsville and Timonium, MD, died at Select Specialty Hospital in Harrisburg on Wednesday, April 9, 2014. Born in Watchung, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Alfred D. and Helen (Matthews) Boyd. Bette’s husband of 44 years, Donald W. Wirtz died in 2011.

Bette served the Lord in various ministries through the Church and more recently as Adjunct Professor at Valley Forge Christian College in Valley Forge. Her ministries have included instruction and the many aspects of church life and spiritual growth. Bette holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Loyola College of Baltimore and the Master of Arts Degree in Education from Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.

She brought teachings on Biblical concepts for church leadership and renewal, the ministry of hospitality and choir ministries, and pastoral counseling matters. Bette served in foreign missions outreaches in Singapore where she in-serviced local leaders on pastoral counseling. She also traveled to Italy and Germany with choir tours from Valley Forge Christian College.

Rev. Wirtz served on the Pastoral Staff at Trinity Assembly of God, Lutherville, MD for ten years. During her tenure at Trinity, Bette designed and implemented A Christian Counseling Centre training some 50 caregivers and ministered to many hundreds of individuals and families. During this time she worked under the tutelage of Richard Dobbins, PhD of Emerge Ministries, Akron, OH and Gilbert Clapperton, PhD of Loyola College. Bette also was Minister of Music at Hereford United Methodist Church, Hereford, MD for two years. Rev. Wirtz taught Spiritual Leadership Courses at Philadelphian Christian Center, Philadelphia and Spring City, PA. Bette is a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God.

Bette enjoyed music, drama, art, reading, the Chesapeake Bay, homemaking, decorating and working on the computer.

Surviving are three brothers, Rev. Dr. William R. Boyd, Sr., husband of Josephine, Dayton, TN, Dr. David H. Boyd, husband of Carol, Lakeland FL, Alfred D. Boyd, Jr., husband of Jo Anne, Lancaster, PA; and her nephews and nieces, Mark Boyd, husband of Dolores, Lititz, PA, Dr. William R. Boyd, Jr., Dayton, TN, Deb Warren, wife of Hugh, Louisiana, Joseph Boyd, Lakeland, FL, Beth Boyd, Lakeland, FL, John Boyd, Kissimmee, FL, Thomas A. Boyd, Mechanicsburg, PA, and Julia A. Boyd, Ozark, MO.

The Funeral will take place 2 PM Monday, April 14, 2014, in the Chapel of Calvary Church, 1051 Landis Valley Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601, with her brother Rev. Dr. William R. Boyd, Sr. officiating. A Viewing will be held from 1 to 2 PM at the church. Interment will be in Dulaney Memorial Gardens, Timonium, MD, on Tuesday at 11 AM. Memorial contributions may be mailed to Valley Forge Christian College, 1401 Charlestown Rd., Phoenixville, PA 19460 of Teen Challenge Training Center, c/o Finance Dept., PO Box 98, Rehrersburg, PA 19550.

Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page


Be sure to include your name

Please note that your condolence will not appear on this page until it is reviewed. Condolences usually appear within 24 hours of being submitted.

Condolences to the Family

April 12, 2014

Bette loved life, music and the Lord. She enjoyed sharing her music and her faith. We enjoyed listening to her play the piano. I recall on one of our visits with her at Brethern Village she played the piano and we all sang hymns. Bette always had a smile and was always fun to be with. She was a warm, loving, caring lady and we will miss her greatly. We send our love and prayers for all her family. Bette will continue to be in our hearts and memories.
With Love,
Don and Julia Jones

April 11, 2014

Bette was so very warm and nice and joyous when we met at Al & Joannes’ a few years ago. Bette filled the house with life and love flowed from her. I think she may never have met a stranger. It was so much fun singing with her. We may try to live our lives so we have as few regrets as possible but there is another to add to my list, that we did not meet again and that I did not have more time with Bette in this life…..but there is a new life for Bette and I hope to meet her there one day.
May God fill the hearts of Bette’s family with peace and comfort them at this time of parting.
With love,
Lesia P. Mills

Visitation
Monday, April 14, 2014
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Calvary Church
1051 Landis Valley Rd.
Lancaster, PA 17601
Map and Directions

Get Maps and Directions >
Services
Monday, April 14, 2014
2:00 PM
Calvary Church
1051 Landis Valley Rd.
Lancaster, PA 17601
Map and Directions

Get Maps and Directions >
Send Flowers Online

Offering Lancaster, PA funeral services for over 75 years.

Our six funeral homes in Lancaster County makes it easy and convenient to make arrangements and host services close to home.

  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Downtown Lancaster
  • 414 East King St.
  • 717-393-9661
  • Charles F. (Chip) Snyder, Jr. Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Lititz Pike
  • 3110 Lititz Pike
  • 717-560-5100
  • Charles F. (Chad) Snyder, III Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Millersville
  • 441 North George St.
  • 717-872-5041
  • Mark D. Burkholder Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Spacht-Snyder Family Funeral Home Lititz, PA
  • 127 South Broad St.
  • 717-626-2317
  • Jacqueline Adamson Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Bachman-Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory Strasburg, PA
  • 7 South Decatur Street
  • 717-687-7644
  • Norman T. Mable Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Willow Street, PA
  • 2421 Willow Street Pike
  • 717-464-4600
  • Kelly Gramola Townsend Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info