Betty Hubbard

Lake Junaluska, Betty Lou Rose Hubbard, age 90, passed away on Monday, September 5, 2022, at her home.

Betty Lou was born in Mecklenburg County and grew up in Winston Salem, NC, the daughter of the late Mark Spurgeon Rose and Florence Lewis Rose.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Charmione Jones and her brother, James Rose.

After graduating from High Point University with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education, Betty Lou served for 8 years as a missionary in Dolavon and Neuquen, Argentina.  After returning to the United States, she attended Western Carolina University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Music.

Betty Lou was part of the Junaluska Singers for 3 summer seasons before becoming employed by First United Methodist Church of Waynesville as the Director of Christian Education and Director of the Children’s Choirs and Youth Choir.  Later she became the Director of Music and led the Chancel Choir in productions of Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Christmas Madrigal dinners and multiple dinner theatre events.  Also, the choir participated in a tour to Germany, Austria, and The Czech Republic, and on multiple occasions sang with mass choirs in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Betty Lou was honored to be the Director of Music for the 1976 World Methodist Conference in Dublin, Ireland.

Betty Lou is survived by her devoted husband of 44 years, William M. Hubbard; two beloved sons, Robert A. Stroud (Vera) of Erie, PA, and John Mark Stroud (Cindy) of Melbourne, FL; brother, Mark Rose (Gail); and sister-in-law, Frances Rose.  Also left to treasure her memory are six grandchildren, Lacey Segesdy (Russ), Sam Stroud (Ashley), Sara Weaver (Marvin), Michael Atkins (Katie), Madelyn Stroud (Jim), and Jillian Stroud and six great-grandchildren, Wells Robert Segesdy, Jaxson, Griffin, and Robyn Weaver, and Avery and Sawyer Atkins.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Betty Lou Hubbard will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville at 11 a.m. Saturday, October, 29, 2022.  The family will receive friends at a reception following the service in the Christian Growth Center.  A private family inurnment will be held following the services and reception.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Music Appreciation Fund - First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, 566 S. Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786

The care of Mrs. Hubbard has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.