Elizabeth Ann “Betsy” Viehweger Luke, 82, of the Abba Community, died Saturday, September 14, 2024, at her home.
Graveside services will be held 11 AM, Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Luke Cemetery, in Irwin County, Georgia, with the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Stembridge officiating. The family will receive friends Monday evening, from 6 PM until 8 PM, at the funeral home in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
Mrs. Luke was born June 29, 1942, in Lisle, New York to the late August F.W. & Kathleen Lucinda Henne Viehweger. She graduated from Apopka Memorial High School in June of 1960 and was named Miss Apopka in 1959. She married Thomas Eugene “Gene” Luke on July 15, 1961 and together they raised a beautiful family filled with love and laughter. She worked in the office for Plymouth Citrus. She and Gene moved back to the Luke farm in 1968. She did clerical work for H.R. Kaminsky & Sons and SWS Garment. She also worked for Hill’s Pharmacy. Mrs. Luke worked as the manager for Tops & Bottoms Clothing Shop, TG&Y, and B.C. Moore’s before retiring from Peebles Department Store in 2004. She loved to crochet and made all her great-grands baby blankets. She enjoyed word search puzzles and sitting on the porch with Gene watching the hummingbirds. They also enjoyed picking up their pecans and taking them to Morehead’s. She taught Sunday school and Training Union when they attended Abba Baptist Church. She was a member of Arbor Baptist Church where she sang in the choir.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law: Donna & Wayne Reeves and Patricia & Jeff Rineair; grandchildren and their spouses: Will & Michela Rineair, Katherine & Jason Cranford, Luke & Ilse Rineair, Tyler & Maggie Reeves, and Hillery & Ben Culpepper; great-grandchildren: Cannon, Leonni, Murphy, Jedd, Marisol, Caroline, Banner, Candace, and Paxton; two sisters, Trudy & Lee Credeur of Pensacola, Florida and June Blake of Geneva, Florida; and a sister-in-law, Sherry Viehweger of Panama City, Florida. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Gene Luke, who died on July 17, 2024; and two brothers: Frederick Viehweger and August Henry “Butch” Viehweger.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to Traditions Health Hospice, 126 South Access Road, Chula, GA 31733 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.