Obituary of Betsy Lee Parrish Vannoy

On May 16, 2021, Betsy Parrish Vannoy, 92, a native of Welch, West Virginia and long-time Roanoke native, departed this earth for her next chapter. Mrs. Vannoy was preceded in death by her husband, Tam Park Vannoy, her twin sister, Nancy Parrish Venable, her brother, Jack Parrish, and her sister, Patricia Parrish Smith.
Mrs. Vannoy was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and successful entrepreneur. An avid reader, she opened The Paperback Exchange, an independent bookstore with two locations that became a Roanoke staple for over 25 years. Mrs. Vannoy cherished her relationships with her employees, her customers, and the organizations she supported through her many book donations, such as to the Roanoke Rescue Mission, to various school reading programs, and to American military units serving abroad. She is survived by four children, Susan V. Garnand,(HJ) Jane V. Ward (Ray), James Vannoy, and Nancy V. Totten ( William); 9 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting your local bookstore or library, or read a book and pass it on for others to enjoy. The Vannoy family would like to thank the staff at Harmony Memory Care for their care during this past year and a special thank you to Mrs. Samantha Smith for her friendship over the years. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.