Betty Benbow Sanders of Chapel Hill died unexpectedly at home Dec. 23, 2012 on the eve of Christmas. She was born on July 3, 1946 in Pinehurst. Her death came as a shocking surprise to all who knew her as family or friend.

She was the daughter of the late Greensboro pediatrician, Dr Edward P. Benbow, Jr., and his wife, Betty Smith Benbow.

Betty graduated from Greensboro Senior High School in 1964 and attended UNC at Chapel Hill, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She also received a master's degree from Duke University.

Betty and her husband, Milton Heath, had planned their usual winter trip to Key Largo, Florida, for early 2013, and their often-repeated trip to Vancouver in western Canada, for next summer. Betty's was a fluent mind that captured and massaged current events, day after day. In her last years she became a very successful investor of the funds available to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, by her brother, John Dewitt Benbow, and by her nephew, Brent Benbow.

Betty leaves her beloved husband, Milton Heath; her former husband, Joe Sanders; her brother, Edward P. Benbow, III, and his family; her sister Carol Dixon and Carol's husband, Billy Dixon; Carol's daughter, Jessica Kirtley, Jessica's husband Marcus Kirtley, and their children, Elise Kirtley and Kaley Kirtley; her sister-in-law Jeter Benbow; her uncle, Clifford Smith and aunt, Sally Smith; uncle Richard and aunt Janie Smith; grand nieces and nephews Ted Benbow, Brian Benbow, Alaina Benbow, Gavin Benbow, Patrick Benbow, and Parker Benbow; Milton's daughter, Margaret, and his sons, Charlie and Frank; Charlie's wife, Zevey and their children, Eli and Liana; Milton's stepmother, Mae Heath; Milton's brother, Bob Heath, his wife, Jo, and their children; Milton's sister, Betty, brother-in-law Erwin and nieces Clara Neyhart and Elizabeth Chorvat, and a host of friends from every walk of her life, who will miss her beyond repair.