Betty Ann (Holloway) Wagner, born Sept. 17, 1930, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2017 following complications from an accidental fall.

She was   predeceased in life by her husband, Dr. Thomas E. Wagner in June of 2015, and her parents, George Clinton and Anna Mae (Gillihan) Holloway, her 3 brothers, 'Don', 'Pete' and 'Bill' Holloway, as well as a son, Thomas E. Wagner, of New Orleans in February 2017.

She is survived by her remaining children, Julia (Richard) Llewellyn of Columbia, MD, Donna (Ernesto) Molinari of Bern, Switzerland, and George Michael Wagner (Elizabeth Kartiganer) of Asheville, NC and grandchildren, Douglas Wagner of New Orleans, Leonardo and Lucia Molinari of Bern, and Gabriel, Julian and Sophia Wagner of Asheville.

Betty never had a sister, but she had a special relationship with her husband's sister 'Peggy' Frampton of Easton, MD. Peggy describes Betty's artistic abilities perfectly: "she constantly amazed me with her many talents and creative ideas. We could both look at a broken down piece of furniture and to me, it was just a 'piece of junk'. To her, with a little of this and a touch of that it could be transformed into something very special. Then she would do just that." Her talent continued throughout her life, and every home was beautifully decorated. A fire completely destroyed her house in Waynesboro, TN in September 2015, and she lost everything. She managed to remain strong, start over, and made every place she lived beautiful and unique.

Betty was a student nurse at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, VA in 1949. When she married in August 1949, she was forced to withdraw from the nursing program because married students were not permitted to continue their education. Mrs. Wagner worked numerous jobs and long hours to earn money to help support her family and to enable her husband, Thomas E.  Wagner, D.D.S. to complete his dental school education at the University of Maryland. Though she was given a "Degree of Good Wife" from the dental school, she was never able to complete her own education and realize her dream of becoming a nurse. She raised four children, was very active in her local community in Maryland, volunteering both as an Emergency Medical Technician as well as working with Hospice. Although Mrs. Wagner never completed a formal nursing education, she was a nurse her entire life in every meaningful way: Nurturing, Understanding, Responsible, Sensitive and Engaged. She was a devoted wife to Dr. Wagner for 65 years, taking care of and nursing him in his final years until his death. Mrs. Wagner was a resident of Mechanicsville, MD from 1957 to 1996. She retired with Dr. Wagner to Waynesboro, TN. In December 2015 she moved to Asheville, NC and was a resident at The Crossings at Reynolds Mountain at the time of her death.

Memorial Donations to the Betty H. Wagner Honorary Scholarship in Nursing can be made at:

www.nursing.umaryland.edu/giving or by calling 410.706.7640.  Checks should be made out to UMBR with "for the Betty H. Wagner Honorary Scholarship at Nursing" in the Memo Section and mailed to:

Laurette L. Hankins, Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations

University of Maryland School of Nursing

655 W. Lombard  Street, 505J

Baltimore, MD 21201

An intimate celebration of her life was held in Asheville by her family January 6, 2018. Her children remember her as an exceptionally warm and caring person and they will truly miss her beautiful smile!

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