Betty Jo Hypes

September 29, 2018

Betty Jo Hypes, of Mullens, passed away on Saturday, September 29, 2018 from pancreatic cancer. Born in Mullens, WV, she was the daughter of Buford E. Hypes, Sr. and Annie Taylor Hypes. Betty Jo graduated from Mullens High School in 1952 and Concord College in 1956. She taught in the English Department at West Virginia University for 42 years. Betty Jo loved WVU and was a true Mountaineer. Betty Jo was an avid reader and taught many students how to express themselves through writing and using grammar correctly. Students loved Ms. Hypes because of her storytelling. Betty Jo made her living talking. She never met a stranger. She loved music, musicals, plays, and poetry. In her leisure she played the piano and sang. She traveled to many foreign countries and across the United States. Above all she loved her family and friends, and especially her sister Alice. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters Maude Canterbury (Henry) and Nelva Webster (Sam); her brother Buford E. "Bud" Hypes. Betty Jo is survived by her sister Alice Hypes, her brother Pete Hypes (Rachel); nieces, Trudy Blackwell (Bucky), Tammy McKinney (Clifford), Elizabeth Hypes and Bertie Arellanos; nephews, Dr. Samuel E. Webster, Andrew Canterbury, Petie Hypes, and Derrick Hypes; special great nieces and nephews, Audra Blackwell (Matthew Martin), Mark Blackwell, Clint Houck, Amber Ribner (Andrew) and Blaine McKinney. Services will be 12 Noon, Friday, October 5, 2018 at the Highland Avenue Baptist Church, Mullens with Rev. Lewis Arnold officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, October 4, 2018 at Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens and one hour prior to services Friday at the church. Many thanks to her nephews, Dr. Sam Webster, Dr. Glen Crotty, Jr., the staff at CAMC and Hubbard Hospice House, and family and friends who helped her through her illness. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tankersleyfh.com. The family of Betty Jo is being cared for by Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens.