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.