Betsy (Grace Elizabeth) Bender Griffiths, 78, of Gettysburg, PA, passed away peacefully at home on September 25, 2025, due to complications from Parkinson’s (Lewy Body) Dementia.
Betsy was born to Kathryn Warfel Bender and Dr. William A. Bender in Chambersburg, PA, on January 13, 1947. She graduated from Chambersburg HS, received her B.A. in Biology from Gettysburg College in 1968, and received her MT(ASCP) from the Duke University Medical Center School of Medical Technology in 1969.
Betsy was married to her loving husband, soulmate, and best friend, Jon, for 57 years. She also leaves behind her three children: Dr. Christopher Griffiths, DVM, and wife Janie of Frederick, MD; Dr. Megan Griffiths-Ward, PhD., and husband Dr. David Ward of Hudson, OH; and Dr. Sarah Griffiths, DMA, and wife Dr. Tami Petty of Montvale, NJ. Betsy is survived by her four grandchildren, whom she cherished and loved deeply: Sophie and Elliot Griffiths, and Gemma and Liam Ward. She is also survived by her sisters Kay Louise Bender and Dr. Anne Bender of Chambersburg, PA.
The cornerstones of Betsy’s life were love of family and sacred choral music.
During the early years of her marriage, Betsy worked as a medical technologist at Duke Univ. hospital, NC, and Hershey Medical Center, PA
During her young-family years, she was a committed stay-at-home mom, working to help other young mothers get off to a good start, through leadership in Atlantic City La Leche League and the Cape-Atlantic Childbirth Education Association. She helped establish the first Birthing Room at the Atlantic City Medical Center, NJ, in 1979.
Choral music was a central part of her life. She was a member of the Gettysburg College Choir, where she met her husband, Jon. They were privileged to be part of the Choir’s 47-day, 13-nation, around-the-world tour in 1967, a life-changing experience. During her growing family’s 40 years in Atlantic County, NJ, Betsy sang with several different choral groups: Richard Stockton College Chorale, Masterworks Singers, Festival Chorus, and the Presbyterian Church Choir of Pleasantville, where she was also conductor of the children’s choirs for 15 years. Sacred choral music centered her soul and was the source of her spiritual sustenance.
Beginning in the mid-1970s, the Griffiths family began to spend some time each summer at Upper Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondacks. First with a church group and, later, in a cabin they bought. Betsy delighted in being able to share this precious place, canoeing, hiking, exploring, and relaxing with family and friends. An equally important part of the family’s growing years were the summer tent camping trips Betsy organized, exploring most of the US states and great national parks.
During the school-aged years of her children, she was a creative and tireless Girl Scout leader, seeing her dedicated senior scouts through to completing their Gold Awards. They celebrated their high school graduations by traveling together as a troop for 2 weeks to Paris and Our Chalet, a Girl Scout World Center in Switzerland.
During her children’s college years, she began teaching introductory Biology labs at Richard Stockton College in NJ, enjoying the opportunity to delve into the ecology of the NJ Pine Barrens and other fascinating topics of life science.
After their retirement, Betsy and Jon moved from Galloway, NJ, to Gettysburg, PA she became active with St. James Lutheran Church in the Choir and the Creation Care committee, dedicated to advancing environmental topics. She also volunteered with the Land Conservancy of Adams County, South Mountain Audubon Society, and served on the board of the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra.
When Betsy’s father died in 1997, she and Jon took on the challenge for the nurturing and distribution of the many show daffodils he bred over the decades. When they moved to Gettysburg, they planted several thousand bulbs on their new property and have given thousands more away to growers, friends, and family.
Betsy’s most meaningful accomplishment in life is reflected in the caring, thoughtful children she & Jon raised, each of whom is engaged in worthy and meaningful work of their choice.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at St. James Lutheran Church, 109 York St., Gettysburg, PA. 17525 on October 18, 2025, at 11:00 (visitation 10:00). Please come prepared to sing!
In lieu of flowers, donations in Betsy’s memory may be made to The Land Conservancy of Adams County, PO Box 4584, Gettysburg, PA 17325, or The Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra at thegco.org. Online obituary and condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com.