Saltville, Virginia

Betty Zane Swecker Fawley, 81, of Saltville, Virginia, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Carroll County, the daughter of the late Charles Daniel and Mary Quesenberry Swecker.

Betty grew up in Hillsville, VA., graduating from Fort Chiswell High School in 1962. As a child, she always knew she wanted to be a teacher. She put herself through college by working in the cafeteria and was able to graduate from Radford College with a degree in teaching in three years. After college, she moved to Saltville, Virginia, where she took a position teaching Business Administration at R.B. Worthy High School (currently Northwood High School). While dining at a popular restaurant named Selena, she met Thomas Marshall Fawley, II, an engineer employed at Olin Mathieson. They married on November 23, 1966, and purchased their home in the community of Pleasant Heights in 1968.

In 1976, Betty and Tom welcomed their one and only child, Thomas Marshall Fawley, III. Betty loved being a mom. She often said Marshall went everywhere with her. As a toddler, he could always be found on her lap. Marshall loved to help Betty cook. You would find Marshall standing on a stool in the kitchen to cook and bake. Betty always supported Marshall's activities in and out of school. Seeing Marshall achieve his goal of becoming an attorney made her so proud.

After 35 years of teaching, Betty retired. Retirement did not mean leisure for Betty. She served as secretary on the board of the Madam Russell Methodist Church for over 25 years.  She was a woman of deep Christian faith, so the church was a big part of her life. She assisted with programs such as the annual yard sale, community meals, and the diaper ministry. Betty was an avid reader, loved gardening and canning, picking berries to make homemade jams, and doting on all of her houseplants. She also produced the Swecker Family calendar every Christmas. This calendar included photos of all family members along with birthdays and milestones.

In 2006, while Betty and Tom were on a road trip out West, Tom suffered a heart attack and died. Marshall flew out to be with his mom. The experience of losing Tom brought Marshall and Betty closer together. They spoke on the phone daily as they adjusted to life without Tom.

Three years later, Betty met a neighbor named Dave Osborne. They courted and married on December 03, 2009. Dave introduced Betty to the joys of camping, and soon they purchased a camper. When they were not camping, they took day runs to neighboring towns and through the mountains while listening to classic country music.

Road trips to the DC-area increased after the summer of 2015 when Adeline Tien Fawley was born. Betty waited in the hospital waiting room for her grandbaby to enter the world. Once Addie arrived, Betty could talk of nothing else. Her granddaughter was her world. Betty made every holiday magical, especially Christmas. Once Addie could walk, she would wake up in the mornings to look for her Nana. The two of them would snuggle up under blankets, drink their coffee and their milk, and watch television together. Time with Addie was so precious to Betty.

Betty and Dave traveled extensively with her brother Sam and sister-in-law Tammy.  Road trips to the New England area (13 states), out West (25 states), and an Alaskan cruise. She was able to revisit some of her favorite states by staying in a log cabin in Darby, Montana, by Painted Rock Lake, and on her last trip this summer to Maine and Canada.  These times of traveling were full of laughter, food, sightseeing, and the ever-elusive hunt for a moose sighting.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Marshall Fawley, II, her sisters Linda Joyce Swecker and Bonnie Swecker Mahone, and her brother Charles Frankie Swecker.

She is survived by her second husband, Dave Osborne, her son, Thomas Marshall Fawley, III, his wife, Sylvie Nguyen-Fawley, and her only grandchild, Adeline Tien Fawley, her sister Zana Patton of Draper, brother Stephen Swecker of Max Meadows, Samuel (Tammy) Swecker of Mechanicsville, Keith (Angie) Swecker of Pulaski, and several special nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on November 24, 2025, at the Madam Russell United Methodist Church with Rev. Donna Hester. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. The funeral service will begin at 1:00 PM. Graveside services will follow at Mount Rose Cemetery Mausoleum, 10069 Crescent Rd, Glade Spring, Va, 24340. A repass will follow the graveside service in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Diaper Ministry at Madam Russell United Methodist Church. This program provides free diapers and baby supplies for those in need. This cause was close to Betty's heart. Please mail donations to:

Madam Russell United Methodist Church

Diaper Ministry - In Memory of Betty Fawley

207 West Main Street, Saltville, VA 24370

PO Box JJ

Saltville, VA 24370

Online condolences may be expressed at drhendersonfuneralhome.com. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Betty Zane Swecker.