Elizabeth Hinson

Waynesville, NC - Elizabeth G. Hinson, age 86, passed away on December 27, 2014 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home in Canton, North Carolina after a brief illness. "Bet" was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and as the daughter of Paul and "Cal" Goebel was quite well known as a feisty individual who was not afraid to speak her mind. This got her into trouble on some occasions, but her friends often found her honesty and no nonsense approach to life quite refreshing. Her husband, Jim Hinson, certainly did. They met while serving in the American Red Cross in Japan and Korea and were married in Tokyo in 1954. The couple lost no time returning to the U.S. to start a family in Charlotte, North Carolina and had one son and one daughter (both surviving). As Bet was a voracious reader and scholar, she began teaching English at Sedgefield Junior High School in Charlotte, ultimately ending up at Myers Park High School where she taught advanced placement English classes for 30 years. She was the kind of teacher everyone wanted to have- funny, witty, interesting, demanding, scary, temperamental, and exciting. Her students lined up to take her classes, sometimes regretting it, as she gave only what was earned. Later, in her retirement Bet moved to Waynesville, North Carolina as part of her life-long love of the mountains and aversion to hot weather. Traveling became a new passion with "Wonderful Women" trips to England, China, Ecuador, Denmark, Italy, Spain, and Canada all the while having a great time enjoying life. Bet also volunteered at the Guardian Ad Litem, Haywood Arts Council, Animal Welfare Association, Council on Aging and Friends of the Library. On occasion she would "moonlight" at the Haywood Community College teaching classes and tutoring in diverse subjects. Bet's retirement was filled with friends, travel, and love for her three dogs. She never quit fighting for women's rights and other worthwhile causes. Her life was blessed with a loving husband, two beautiful children and a zest for fun and adventure. She will be missed. A gathering of friends will be held from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2015 at Blue Ridge Books, 152 S. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786. Memorials can be sent to: The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203-1606 or Friends of Music, Southern Illinois University, Box 1771, Edwardsville, IL 62025.

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