Obituary of Elizabeth Ann Summer

Elizabeth (Betsy) Ann Summer (nee Koch) of Chapel Hill, NC died peacefully at The Pines at Carolina Meadows, at the age of 93. Betsy is survived by her children, Carol Summer Velasco of Raleigh, NC, David Summer of Carrboro, NC, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. She is preceeded in death by her husband George Kendrick Summer and grandson Miles Wipper. Betsy was born on January 6, 1929 in Allentown, PA to Herbert and Miriam Koch. She attended Bucknell University, graduating with a degree in Psychology and furthered her education at Katherine Gibbs School in Boston where she met her husband George who was attending Harvard Medical School. The couple was married in North Carolina and moved to Chapel Hill where George joined the faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina. Betsy was an exemplary manager of the household, loving wife, extraordinary mother to Carol and David, and beloved grandmother. She also had a career as a secretary in the UNC School of Public Health and as a UNC manager at the Shep’s Center for Health Services Research. Betsy developed a passion for collecting antiques, especially Art Glass and fine porcelains. This led to a second career as the proprietor of Colonial Inn Antiques in Hillsborough, NC. She built a successful business, enjoyed meeting new people and discovering overlooked treasures at tag sales. She continued in the trade assisting other businesses in estate sales well into her 80’s. In 2013 Betsy and George moved to Carolina Meadows where they developed many wonderful friendships. The family would like to thank and acknowledge the medical staff at The Pines, Judy Cohan and Hospice Care for their exceptional care and loving attention during the past two months of Betsy’s life. The family will hold a private ceremony to celebrate Betsy’s life.