Elizabeth Ann Hennig's Obituary
Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Triplet Hennig, born December 18, 1934, in Fort Benning GA to Col. William S. Triplet and Marion F. Triplet. Growing up in a military family, she moved frequently. After World War II her family was based in Okinawa Japan, were she learned and became fluent in Japanese. Later when her family was posted in California she had to learn English all over again.
After graduating high school she continued on to Secretarial school. Graduating from there she went to work for the CIA and was put into a steno pool. From there she was picked out to work for Albert W. Hennig, as his personal secretary. She married him in the Munich Rathaus, West Germany in 1959.
After an adventurous honeymoon through Italy, via Athens Greece, Istanbul, Ankara Turkey, Syria, Iran, West Pakistan, India, and East Pakistan. While in Naples they had everything except the clothes on their back and the car stolen!
They were then posted in Berlin for awhile. One day as she was driving around the city she drove over to what was then the East side of the city only to find when she returned that they had started putting up the Berlin wall.
Later they were posted in India, Karachi, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. She also traveled to Greece, England, France, Austria, Spain, Lebanon, Egypt, Viet Nam, Bangkok, and Calcutta.
After retirement they moved to Leesburg in 1974. Betty continued with her hobbies of painting, pottery, playing the accordion and horseback riding. She even rode with the hunt a few times. She then started her antique shop, The Golden Bat, in which she specialized in oriental antiques and did a few lectures on the subject. She spoke Chinese, Japanese, German and Spanish.
She passed peacefully at home after visiting with friends with son Michael and fiancé Dinah at her side.
She is survived by her son Michael A. Hennig, and daughter Sandra Hennig.
What’s your fondest memory of Elizabeth?
What’s a lesson you learned from Elizabeth?
Share a story where Elizabeth's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Elizabeth you’ll never forget.
How did Elizabeth make you smile?