Betty T. Risk, 84, co-founder of a signature Kanawha City fashion retailing business and a leading member of the greater Charleston-area business community, classically-trained vocalist, dramatist and friend of the arts, who cherished and supported her family with rare and magical passion, died peacefully in her home on Saturday, July 10, 2010, surrounded by her family and loved ones. A 63-year resident of Charleston, Betty’s earliest years, and her bedrock values of faith, family and hard work, were nurtured in Bluefield, where her father owned a business. Educated at Bluefield’s Beaver High School, her musical talents led her to the famed Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., where she received her training in voice and music theory. Betty returned to Charleston to marry Philip E. Risk after his wartime Army service. Soon, the young couple established their fashion store, Risk’s, which became their life’s work. After Phil’s death in 1982, Betty continued to manage the business until 1989, concluding 36 years of continuous operation. With its distinctive headquarters store in Kanawha City and a later branch in Charleston Town Center, Risk’s was an outlet for Betty’s creative talents for buying, merchandising and marketing created a distinctive impact in the local retailing community. Building on Risk’s core values of highest quality, superior customer service and innovation, Betty contributed many distinctive store features, which created a unique profile for the business. These included her use of fashion shows that anticipated every leading fashion trend, the Plaza de Moda “shops within a store” concept, her adoption into her stores of European design and beauty concepts such as the Orlane Institut de Beaute, a comprehensive day-spa, and the re-creation of the soothing Court of Lions fountain inside the Kanawha City store, which embodied the paradise-on-earth theme that Betty and Phil discovered on an early trip to the famed Alhambra, the Moorish palace in southern Spain. All of these set the pace for women’s fashion retailing throughout three decades in Charleston. Her own impeccable sense of style was a testament to her talent, which she joyfully extended by beautifully dressing her many customers, friends and family members. But more than her business, her family was her touchstone, her greatest accomplishment and the most-cherished outlet for her inspiration, love and the sharing of her many gifts of faith, character, love and laughter. Preceded in death by her beloved parents, Rose and Mitchell Thabet; husband, Philip, after 35 years of marriage; and cherished sister, Virginia “Gini” T. Habeeb, she is survived by daughters, Deborah Risk Tobin of Efrat, Israel, Catherine Risk Linder of Lexington, Ky., and Leila K. Risk of Washington, D.C.; seven grandchildren, Elisheva Tobin, Shayna Tobin Gavriely, Aaron Tobin, Ilana Tobin, Philip Linder, Grant Linder and Charlie Linder; and sons-in-law, Michael Tobin and Rolf Linder. Beloved family members she leaves behind include, locally, Agnes Risk Cassis, Steve and Lisa Cassis and family, Larry and Carol Cassis, and Marian Ghiz and family, including Betty’s goddaughter, Sarah Ghiz Korwin, and, elsewhere in the U.S., Alice Risk Hajjar, Barbara Hajjar, Carol Payson, Susan Blackburn, Michael Hajjar, David Hajjar, Lisa Cassis Lodder, Barbara Thabet Norman, and all their families. Betty brought her theatrical sparkle and love of music into all her endeavors, sharing these gifts with generations of family, friends and members of the Charleston community. In her early performance career, Betty toured widely with the renowned Westminster Choir and was privileged to perform under the baton of musical greats, including Leonard Bernstein and Eugene Ormandy. In Charleston, she was a longtime choir member and soloist with the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church, and contralto soloist with The Charleston Symphony Orchestra. An accomplished amateur actress, Betty was an early member of the Charleston Light Opera Guild and Kanawha Players. Some of her memorable leading roles included Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly, Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter and Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias. Committed always to community service, Betty shared her artistic and business experience widely, serving on the boards of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, City National Bank, Sunrise Museum, and the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. She was also a member and deeply involved in the activities of the Clay Center Collector’s Club, First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, and Edgewood Country Club. A lifelong interest in the people and cultures of the world took Betty, Phil and her close family members and friends on extensive travels in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. A tireless traveler also in support of her far-flung family, “GranBetty” or “GrandMama” was ready at a moment’s notice to drive or fly anywhere, at any time, to nurse a grandchild to health, join a family romp at the beach, or support her daughters and sons-in-law momentarily exhausted by their child-rearing duties. Never more at home than when surrounded by family members, in the center of a party, particularly one of her own making, showering her family with her love, or supporting an artistic friend or cause, Betty brought her “sparkle”-her love, her drive, her dramatic sensibilities-to everyone and everything she touched. She will be deeply missed. The family thanks Bonnie Harper and her family, as well as Louise Hambleton and her family for their many years of loyal service and friendship; and Elizabeth Jackson, Gloria Fields, Denise Stewart, Samantha Nichols, Angel Nichols and HospiceCare of Charleston for their expert and loving care in Betty’s waning days. All are welcome to a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, with Dr. James Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.