Elizabeth (Kratz) Poinsett

Elizabeth “Betty” Kratz Poinsett, was born on July 2, 1933 in Souderton, Pennsylvania. She left her earthly home on May 16, 2021 in Alpine, WY. She was 87 years old.

Betty was born to Abram B. Kratz and Martha in her house at 127 West Street in Souderton, PA and was greeted by her older sister Grace. Betty resided at her West St. house until moving in 1958 to Mininger Road in Souderton with her husband Bob and daughter Beth. Though “homesick” from the big move, she felt comfort being able to see the lights of Souderton from her window. Bob and Betty continued to live on Mininger Rd. for exactly 61 years to the day.

Betty met her soul mate Bob, at Souderton High School. The high school sweethearts married on September 19, 1953 and celebrated 67 wonderful years of marriage in September of 2020. They had their first child Beth Ann in 1957, “Bobby” in 1959 and Bonnie Gayle in 1962.

Her devotion and love for her family and friends was second only to her love for the Lord. It is a testament to the importance of friends in her life, that she maintained many friendships and regular get togethers for over 60 years. 

She was a member of the “Mama’s Club”, her Tennis Club (which she played till she was 80) and numerous couples card clubs. She and Bob also bowled for many years in a church bowling league. She was a fabulous cook and baker and loved to host family and friends in her home.

Over the course of many years, she was employed as a bookkeeper at Vogel and Feingold.

Bob and Betty were long time members of Calvary Church in Souderton. They volunteered more hours at Calvary than anyone could count. Betty and Bob’s Sunday School Class and classmates were an especially important fellowship group in their lives. Service to others was at the core of Betty’s character and she gave selflessly to everyone she knew, especially to her children and grandchildren.

One example of that devotion to family and a true legacy she has left her family, was organizing 20 years of annual family reunions in Ocean City, NJ. Every single grandchild would admit that those years were incredibly special and a formative part of their growing up.

In the fall of 2018, Betty contracted Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome and from that point on her physical challenges began. Bob and Betty then moved to the Lutheran Community of Telford in April of 2019. Even though the disease forever changed her life, she still was able to attend her granddaughter Britney’s Coast Guard graduation ceremony in Cape May, NJ in 2019 and her granddaughter Savannah’s winter wedding in WY in December of 2019.

Her final act of devotion to her family and especially to the husband she loved so much, was to ride by his side to his happy place in WY. Though extremely ill, Betty made the road trip on May 13, 2021 alongside Bob (and accompanied by Beth in the transport) to her son Bob’s home in Alpine, WY. After arriving, for 36 hours she was loved on and surrounded by family. We believe when she knew her Bob was in good hands, she left for her eternal home. 

Bob and Betty were inseparable and were role models of a wonderful marriage. It is fitting that when Bob joins her in heaven, a celebration of their lives well lived together, will occur at that time.

Betty is survived by her devoted husband of 67 years, Bob, and her older sister Grace Clemmer. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her 3 children: Beth Poinsett of Ocean City, NJ, Bob (& Sherry) Poinsett of Alpine, WY, and Bonnie (& Ron) Ruth of Souderton, PA. She was very loved by her 9 grandchildren: Adam Poinsett-Hall of New York City, Lauren Hall ( & Ravinder) of Louisville, KY, Savannah (& Jonathan) Lugar of Alpine, WY, Britney Ruth in the Coast Guard living in DE, Bobby (“RC” to Betty) (& Kalisa) Poinsett of Alpine, WY, Ryan Ruth of Souderton, PA, Courtney Elizabeth Poinsett of Laramie, WY, Summer Time of Jackson, WY and Nikki Poinsett of Salt Lake City, UT. Betty also had one great granddaughter Lexie Poinsett (Bobby & Kalisa) and Tajh Hall Sandhu (Lauren & Ravinder) whom sadly she was never able to meet. Betty had one niece, Gayle (& Ken) Clemmer and one nephew, Steve (& Lori) Clemmer who were a part of her wonderful and tight knit family. She was preceded in death by her father Abram B. Kratz, her mother Martha Kratz and her brother-in-law Vernon Clemmer.