Betty C. Stock

Betty C. Stock, former realtor and long-time resident of Morganton, passed away on March 06, 2022 at the age of 92.

Betty was born in Winston Salem, NC. to Wiley T. Culler and Maggie H. Culler. She grew up on the family tobacco farm, playing in the fields, jumping across streams and in the woodworking shop of her grandfather. She graduated as Salutatorian from King High School with perfect attendance and straight As, which at that time only had 11 grades.  At age 18, she became the executive assistant to the VP of the trust Department with Wachovia bank in Winston Salem. Betty was involved with many civic and banking organizations during her career.

She married Richard M. H. Stock, a well-known and respected stock broker, on March 16, 1957. They moved to Morganton in 1958 and she began an office secretarial service from home.  She then became the administrative assistant to Tom Walton the initial business manager at Western Carolina Center. From there she joined Dick Avery and Jerry Norvell as their assistant in their new real estate company but decided that the real estate brokers were having more fun. She studied and became one of the first women in Burke County to hold a real estate sales license. In 1969 she became the first female realtor to open her own office (Betty Stock Realty). In 1977 she became the first realtor male or female to affiliate with a national real estate franchise becoming Century 21 Betty Stock Realty. She went on to buy and sell property in 4 counties across the state. She had a long and successful career with one motto, “Take care of the customer and the rest will take care of itself!”  Many local realtors got their start under her guidance. She was inducted into the Burke County Realtor Hall of Fame in 2020 due to her pioneering and dedication to real estate.

Betty is survived by her son, Barry T. Stock and wife, Lori; daughter, Jean W. Stock; grandson, Spencer C. Stock and wife, Samantha, soon to arrive great grandson, Jameson T. Stock; and older sister Audrey C. Harper of Pittsburgh, PA.

She was preceded by her husband, Richard; and her older brother, Wiley “Bud” T. Culler, Jr.

The cryptside service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum with Rev. John Hagmann officiating.  The family will greet friends following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Amorem Hospice.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.