Newbury, VT – Reverend Betty Stone Ludwig of Newbury, VT, who has in recent years resided winters in Fort Myers, FL, passed away on Friday November 2, 2018, in Ft. Myers.

She was born in Meriden, CT, on Flag Day, June 14, 1926, and lived her early years in Meriden, graduating from Meriden High in 1944, from William Jewell College, Liberty MO, in 1949, and from Hartford Seminary in 1953. At the Annual Meeting of the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ (Congregational) on June 3, 2011, Betty was honored with the following citation: "The Conference wishes to congratulate and thank Rev. Betty Stone Ludwig for 55 years of Ordained Ministry." The following is a brief history of those 55 years.

After graduating from seminary, Betty was called to serve in the Lake Region Parish (four delightful small churches in Barton, Glover, West Glover and Westmore, VT) where her feet got frozen and her heart forever warmed! She then served on the staff of the New Hampshire Conference of Congregational Churches, helping to develop their Conference Center in Pembroke, NH.

From there she advanced to the national staff of the United Church of Christ (Congregational) headquartered in Boston. She lived on the shores of Boston Harbor, in Nahant, MA, was the editor of a teacher's magazine, "Children's Religion" and wrote a book "Here Begins The Gospel". She also wrote "Lenten Devotions for Young People" and revised "The Manual on the Ministry."

Missing the touch of more personal involvement with local churches, Betty accepted a call to the staff of the New York Conference of the United Church with a double portfolio of leadership education and "The Crisis in the Nation." During this period Betty along with her husband Mel Ludwig led adults, and young people on mission tours to orphanages in Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The highlight of this experience was living for a week in the compassionate and loving leper colony (Hansens' Disease) on the island of Molokai, Hawaii.

Out of this ministry evolved the challenge of creating, at St. George's Church in New York City, an intergenerational arts and leisure center called "The Living Room." Betty and Mel developed an environment of creativity that attracted over 100 children, teens, adults and seniors – daily. Live birds and fish, redeemable treasures from the streets of the city, pottery, crafts, music all blended together in one glorious mix.

This exhausting schedule prompted an early retirement and a move to a farmhouse in Vermont. But, after a year of settling into rural life, enjoying gardening, pottery, oil painting, tole painting and fixing up the old farmhouse, Betty and Mel were asked to be temporary Directors of the Atkinson Residence, the Congregational retirement home next door. This "temporary" assignment turned into over 10 years. Betty was also a supply preacher in several Vermont and New Hampshire churches, but finally really retired and was able to spend delightful winters in Ft Myers, FL.

Betty enjoyed numerous crafts like pottery, quilting, watercolors, her perennial garden, writing poetry, and unusual crafts like Ukranian egg decorating and pine needle basketry. She volunteered for about 20 years in the arts and crafts at the North Haverhill, NH Fair, demonstrating and displaying her paintings, photography, and numerous crafts.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, the Reverend Melvin F. Ludwig, and by her parents Raymond Charles Stone and Vera Root Stone. She was also predeceased by an array of little dogs who "decorated" her life and delighted her days.

Survivors include her sister Loris Germain Balkun, niece Bonnie Germain, nephews Robert Germain, Glen Germain, and Todd Germain, and dear friend and travel companion Dianne Rappa.

Betty affirms that it has been a wonderful and blessed life, and asked that her obituary be ended with this brief poem entitled,

"Inheritance"

There is one jewel that I bequeath to you,

It is a spider's web inset with dew;

There is a broach I will you when I die;

A Queen Ann's lace complete with butterfly;

A necklace I would leave with you one day,

A glorious strand of sparkling ocean spray….

For I'm convinced a soul like yours will sense

The wealth and joy of such inheritance!