Elizabeth "Betty" (Nostadt) Wray
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Betty Wray was the main founder of GGD and the person who has been working tirelessly on writing newsletter articles, editing the newsletter, contacting sources for articles, and helping individual members since 1995, She passed away on February 4, 2026 while still being active in GGD affairs in the final week of her life. She will be sorely missed by Galizien descendants both in America and around the world. Memorial services for Betty Wray will be on Wednesday, February 25 at 11 AM (2 PM EST) at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 100 Northgate Rd. Walnut Creek, CA 94598. The service will be recorded and broadcast via Zoom. We will share that link HERE when it becomes available. |
TRIBUTES
Truly sad to learn of Betty's passing. Betty is actually a relative of mine and she has been so instrumental in my learning about my mother's maternal lineage I believe our great grandparents were brother and sister and their parents were Konrad Schuster and Elizabeth Spanier.
Thank you for letting us all know Betty was so invested in her ancestry work and has been such a wonderful tutor. Deepest condolences to those who knew her well
Member F066, Ontario Canada
I too am very sorry to hear of Bettys’ passing. She was the first person who I heard from several years ago when I sent an inquiry about GGD to an email address. Betty came back with answers and helped me understand what GGD it was about and how might help me. She convinced me that I should join and I did. I’ll always remember her for her kindness and willingness to give me a hand and maybe give me that little push I needed to get involved by joining. I really didn’t know that she was one of those key people within GGD but I soon found out. She was an individual that was a leader within GGD and she led by example. I’ll always remember her for what she did for me and certainly many others throughout the years.
My condolences to Betty’s family and all that knew her.
May Betty rest in peace,
Member S026, Texas USA
Sad to hear of Betty's passing; God bless her.
Member L066, New York, USA
We thank you for the sad news; your biological and genealogical children will miss her greatly! Without her, there would be no GGD!? Well, it is the way of life that everyone must go at some point, and it continues to affect the Galician Germans again and again. As you may have already read in our newsletter, our 'Guardian of Galician History,' Prof. Erich Müller, has passed away. Thus, the sorrow of our wise generation unites us.
Sincerely
Member T059, Director of GGD's sister organization, "The Galician Germans – History and Remembrance Culture Association”, Germany
I'm so sorry to learn of Betty's passing. She was such a wonderful person, so full of knowledge and was a great help to me when I first started my 'genealogy trip'.
My deepest condolences to her family and to all of you at the GGD. She will be missed by hundreds of her 'children'.
Member L040, Ontario Canada
I am sorry to hear the sad news about Betty Wray. I know she was a driving force for the GGD over many years.
Member Tom Porth, Deleware, USA
This is very sad news. Betty was my first contact and was VERY helpful in assisting me in the start of my research. Sincere Condolences to Betty’s family, our GGD family , and friends. Her contributions and love for the survival of our heritage can not be underestimated. Murray and Betty will be guiding us from the special place for genealogists. 😍
R.I.P. Dear Betty
Member Margaret Graham, Manitoba, Canada
Dear Lisa and All,
Sad to hear the news of Betty's death. We had many occasions to talk about Galicia. It was not too long ago she sent me a text and we had a short conversation.
Member D001, one of the earliest., Illinois, USA
I am so very sorry to learn of Betty's passing. She was always so helpful to me even from the very beginning. It is primarily because of Betty that GGD has grown and become a great resource for those searching for their Galizien ancestors'.... she's a resource we'll miss. R.I.P. Betty
Member J002, Washington, USA, another very early member
Thank you for sharing the sad news about Betty's passing. She was my first contact with GGD and I have appreciated her many contributions to
genealogy over the years I have admired her hard work, her dedication, and her passion for history and genealogy data. She will be missed. My condolences to the staff at GGD and to her family.
Member S065, Alberta, Canada
In addition to her biological children, we GGD members are her "genealogy children" who will carry on her genealogy research and education efforts about Galizien Germans. May she rest in peace knowing this.
Member G025, New Jersey, USA
I first contacted Betty in 1999 and she helped me navigate the Galizien genealogical landscape as she seems to freely do for anyone who first tries to research their Galician German roots. Later, she needed an assistant webmaster to help Murray Gauer so she asked me and we started communicating a lot. I visited her and Jim in 2012 and we really got to know and trust each other. For many year Betty essentially ran GGD on her own with some help from translators and the webmasters. She was a very energetic lady, always seeking to develop the understanding of Galician Germans in others. She continued to be an active contributor and reviewer even after several significant medical issues. I will definitely miss her personally and for her colossal input to the understanding of Galician Germans by English speaking people around the world. GGD would not exist if it were not for Betty.
John Kaminski, Ontario Canada (GGD Webmaster)
Thank you for passing along the sad news about Betty. Please send my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
Member P065, New York, USA
It is really sad news. I have known Betty for more than 20 years, and she has always been helpful, kind and full of humor. I will miss her emails and I will keep her in my memory as an outstanding personality.
Please convey my deepest condolences to her family.
Member D000, Germany