Linda Betts Frazier, 89, of Harrisonburg, passed on to the Lord on Friday, May 30, 2008.

She was the daughter of the late Fred K. Betts, Jr. and Linda Evelyn Bibb Betts. A lifelong resident of Harrisonburg, she graduated from Harrisonburg High School, Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and at age 66, received the first Master’s of Music from James Madison University.

Linda was a gifted musician and performer and an important contributor to the fabric of our community. As a youth, she lived in a house on Court Square, she sang and danced on the stage of the old Virginia theater, as a teen she broadcast her own radio show from WSVA’s downtown studio. She developed her beautiful voice into a light and agile coloratura soprano. She was lead soprano of the Westminster College Touring Choir in 1939 and toured all 48 states. She sang on the original soundtrack of Walt Disney’s Fantasia under the direction of Leopold Stokowski.

One summer home from college, she met the love of her life, Robert Y. Frazier. They married in June 1942 at First Presbyterian Church in a large Naval wedding. She pursued her career as a church music director and vocal instructor in many different communities during the early WWII years. While her husband was in the Pacific theater, she and her mother established an enemy aircraft early warning station at their hilltop home east of town. This station was manned 24 hours a day during the war, had a direct line to Langley Army Air Base, and involved hundreds of local people in the war effort.

After the war, she and her husband decided to stay in Harrisonburg and started The Frazier Quarry in 1946.

Linda Betts chose not to pursue a professional singing career in New York City and instead devoted her life’s energy to her family, music, connecting people to their historical roots, and community service. Her boundless energy and enthusiasm led to achievements that touched many lives.

Musically, she shared her gifts and training by organizing the Rockingham Community Chorus, as a Choir Director at Asbury United Methodist and Temple Beth-El; as a voice instructor at Shenandoah Conservatory in Dayton and James Madison University; and as a soloist for hundreds of weddings and funerals throughout the area.

An enthusiastic genealogist, she traced dozens of family lines to find ancestors that qualified for the Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Jamestowne Society, Daughters of Founders and Patriots, and many other historical organizations.

Linda and her mother organized the Rockingham Home Demonstration Club in the late 1940s, she was elected one of the first woman elders in the Presbyterian Church, a long-time board member of the Salvation Army, Shenandoah University, and the Virginia Quilt Museum. She recently spearheaded a project to preserve the remains of city founder Thomas Harrison and re-inter them at Woodbine cemetery and also organized the Shenandoah Valley Company of the Jamestowne Society enrolling over 30 descendants of Jamestowne settlers.

In essence, Linda was a woman of singular energy and talent and grace.

Linda is survived by: her husband, Robert Y. Frazier; two sons, Robert Betts Frazier and Bibb Yost Frazier; her daughters-in-law: Dolly Sease Frazier and Paula Knupp Frazier; nine grandchildren: Robert, David, Austin, Michael, Cy, Macie, and Janie Frazier, Amanda and Simon Kyger. She is pre-deceased by her only brother, Fred K. Betts, III and two infant sons.

A memorial service, conducted by Dr. John Sloop, will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at First Presbyterian Church on Court Square in Harrisonburg. The family invites friends to stay for a reception following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Quilt Museum Building Fund, 301 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, Va. 22801.

If you have a memory of Linda’s life you would like to share, please take a couple of minutes to leave a phone message sharing your memory. Her family has set up a special answering machine line at 540-437-9449 for this purpose.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kygers.com 

	1. 02-06-2008 09:38
	Fraizer Family,    Mrs Fraizer was a BEAUTIFUL PERSON inside and out. She was a very Special Person in my life. I work for The Salvation Army, and I enjoyed our talks when I called and reminded her that we were having a Advisory Board Meeting. All of you are in my prayers. God Bless You     Dale Vencill  The Salvation Army

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	2. 02-06-2008 09:52
	Linda was an extra-ordinary person and one who everyone liked.    Robert B - My sister (Hetty Jarrels Wagner, now decased, tells a story of being in New York with Linda. My sister was baby-sitting you. When Linda left the hotel room the tears from your little eyes started to flow big time. You tried so hard not to cry and finally said "I don't think this is going to work".

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	3. 02-06-2008 10:01
	Was so sorry to read about Linda Betts' passing away (while I was attending a state convention of the P.E.O. sisterhood in Reston, VA). Just heard this morning via DNR. Roger did not make church on Sunday either. We shall miss her "bright smile and presence" at First Pres. and at DAR etc. Love, Judy and Roger

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	4. 02-06-2008 12:14
	Linda was a great friend and so informative whenever you would speak to her. I loved calling her and talking for hours about a little bit of everything. She was a great and special person. The world needs a few more like her. She will be deeply missed.

Wendie Hassler

	5. 02-06-2008 13:45
	Our hearts go out to your entire family. She was the first to teach me how to "sell a song" at Spotswood Elementary a few years back. I have so many other memories of lazy summers, large dogs, and of course, lots of music. Her leadership, stewardship, and especially her friendships leave a legacy for us all.

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	6. 02-06-2008 15:39
	On behalf of the Collections and Historic Buildings staff of the Frontier Culture Museum, I want to express our sadness at the loss of Mrs. Frazier, and extend our sympathies to the Frazier family. Mrs. Frazier was tremendously supportive of the Museum and particularly of our Bowman House project. It was a true pleasure working with her and her husband and sons, and we are happy she saw it completed. I, personally, enjoyed our conversations about Valley history and developments at the Museum. She was always very kind and generous. All of us at the Frontier Culture Museum will miss her.

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	7. 02-06-2008 18:03
	My thoughts and prayers are with you all.  Much Love & Blessings,  Lisa

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	8. 02-06-2008 20:19
	Linda was a huge influence in my life and helped me a lot when she was choir director at Asbury UMC. She always had a smile.

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	9. 02-06-2008 21:08
	My deepest condolences to Mr. Frazier, Robert and Bibb and the Frazier family on Mrs. Frazier's passing. As a youth and young man I was fortunate to enjoy Mrs. Frazier's great warmth, hospitality and sense of humor on many occasions. She was truly a unique and talented woman.

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	10. 03-06-2008 07:31
	Our condolences to your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of loss. We will see you soon.

Sylvia and Harold Dill