Betty Jane (Durden) Knecht

Betty Jane Durden Knecht, 86, of Dublin, GA, formerly of Durham and Raleigh, NC, passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2019.

Mrs. Knecht was born in Tattnall County and was the daughter of the late Jesse N and Susie Daughtry Durden.

After graduating high school, in Collins GA, she attended Warren A Candler Hospital School of Nursing in Savannah GA. She continued her education at Armstrong College and Middle Georgia College. Upon graduation, she worked at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, Dublin, GA before enlisting in the US Navy, as Lieutenant JG serving in St. Albans, NY and Great Lakes, IL. After leaving the Navy, Mrs. Knecht continued her nursing career at the VA Medical Center, Martinsburg, WV, Duke University, Durham, NC and completed her 30+ year career at the VA Medical Center in Durham NC.

Upon retirement, Betty enjoyed spending time with her expanding family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she loved dearly. Betty also spent countless hours volunteering with various organizations, but especially enjoyed the fellowship as a member of Lakewood Baptist Church and Rose of Sharon Baptist Church in Durham NC. More recently Betty and her husband lived at Addington Place of Dublin and enjoyed the friendships made there.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Knecht was preceded in death by brothers, Lamar and Jesse Durden Jr, and sisters, Sue Amundson and Anne Schaaf.

Survivors include her husband, Eugene C Knecht, Sr. of Dublin GA; daughters, Laurie (Kenny)  Thomas of Edgewater FL, and Tammy (Noel) Weigel of Dublin GA; sons, Eugene C Knecht, Jr. of King George VA, and David (Sherry) Kappel Knecht of Raleigh NC; grandchildren, Jason (Jeannell) Thomas, Joshua Thomas, Danielle (James) Wagner, Mallory (Isham) Boyer, Lauren (Michael) Lowery, Matthew (Ranna) Weigel, Paige Weigel, Dakota Kappel Knecht, and Sonoma Kappel Knecht; great-grandchildren,  Payton Canady, Ryder Nichols, Shane Wagner, Libby Weigel, and numerous nieces and nephews. Betty, Mom, Aunt “B,” Grannie “B,” wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother; no matter how we identified with her, she touched all of our lives and left memories that can never be erased.

A memorial service will be held at Addington Place on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at 11:00 am, followed by burial at Sunlight Cemetery in Cobbtown GA.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Betty’s name to Serenity Hospice Foundation, 520 Hillcrest Parkway, Dublin GA 31021. 

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