Elizabeth Imsande

Betty Imsande died peacefully at her home in Mt. Pleasant on June 21, 2022, with her immediate family by her side.  Betty had for the past several months been residing at the Lakes of Litchfield assisted living facility in Pawleys Island, SC where her son, Louis his wife, Debbie, and Betty’s two grandsons, Jacob and Luke had been able to visit with her near daily.

Betty was born on Sullivan’s Island at the family home on September 13, 1930. She was the daughter of Daniel Francis Blanchard and Grace Stockton Blanchard, attended school through high school there and left the Island to attend Winthrop College where she earned degrees in business and music. The only girl, she was the sister of brothers Eugene (Betty), Danny Jr. (Louise), Richard (Roberta), each deceased, and Al (Deborah)who resides with his family in Birmingham, Alabama, and of course numerous nieces, nephews, and great descendants.

Following graduation Betty moved to Virginia where she met a young Army officer, John Imsande, who was to become her husband and father of their two children, Carol and Louis.  The young couple moved to Montana, where John was from, and he earned his master’s degree and launched the family into academic pursuits.  As John pursued his PhD the family grew with the births of the two children and they moved among universities, ranging from Duke to Berkley, Princeton, and Case Western. From there they journeyed to the University of Edinburgh, Scotland where they lived for a year, and finally settled down in Ames Iowa where they developed lasting friendships in the Iowa State academic community and local church.

While living in Ames Betty earned a master’s degree in education and following her divorce returned to her roots, family, and lifelong friends on Sullivan’s Island where she purchased her beloved home at Mt. Pleasant where she lived until her death.

With her Masters in hand Betty taught in a variety of schools and wrapped up her career teaching management skills to young soldiers at Fort Jackson and for the rest of her life cherished the beauty of the Low Country. Many days were closed with her sitting on a bench overlooking Charleston Harbor and the sunset at Alhambra Hall.  An avid tennis player, she played until “her knees gave out.”

The closeness of Betty’s large Blanchard family has grown three generations over the past couple decades and in addition to Louis’ immediate family, Betty is survived by Carol, her daughter Liza (Weston) and their two children, Hattie and Davis, and Carol’s husband Larry. The memory of her wit, deep love of family and nurtured friendships will live with everyone who was fortunate enough to have had her in their lives.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at 5:00 PM at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 3222 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482, reception to follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sunrise Presbyterian Church at the above address.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL AND CREMATION, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, (843) 884-3833.