Mary Elizabeth “Betty” (Lockwood) Apostolacus passed away peacefully at the age of 92, on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Charlotte North Carolina. She was born in Monmouth Beach, the daughter of Arthur Lockwood and Frances Lipp. Betty lived in Little Silver for 34 years where she and Bill raised their loving family before moving to Shrewsbury then relocating to Cornelius, North Carolina.
Upon graduating from Long Branch High School in 1952, where she met her husband Bill Apostolacus, she was a secretary for EIA in West Long Branch until she and Bill started their family. As her children grew up Betty could be found working at Gift Winds, or Talbots in Little Silver. She also helped her husband and son Stephen Apostolacus run Travel Network in Shrewsbury.
Betty had wonderful memories of growing up in Monmouth Beach. From watching her father Arthur Lockwood run Lockwood Seafood, to attending Monmouth Beach elementary school with only eight students in her class. Betty’s heart never left the beach. Every summer you could find her at either at Monmouth Beach Club or a Sea Bright Beach Club. If not on the beach she could be found on a tennis court or gardening. In the late ’70s Betty helped start up the girls soccer league in Little Silver by coaching some of the first girls teams. She also volunteered at the Little Silver school PTA and was involved in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Betty‘s love of gardening led her to be a member of the Little Silver Garden Club. She attended Church Of The Nativity in Fair Haven and was a member of the choir. Her true love was always her children and being a Yaya to her grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her husband of 48 years William (Bill) Apostolacus, her sister Francis VanKuik, her brother Arthur Lockwood, son-in-law John Cannon and her grandson Ray Lewis Jr. and her infant daughter Sally Ann Apostolacus. Left to cherish her memory are her sons William Apostolacus and wife Virginia of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Stephen Apostolacus and his wife Susan of Ocean, New Jersey, her daughters Diane Apostolacus of Prattsville, New York and Irene Lewis, and her husband Ray of Davidson, North Carolina, and six grandchildren: Ted Apostolacus, Kit Apostolacus, Anne Apostolacus, Kate Apostolacus, Hannah Lewis and Samantha Lewis.
Betty will be remembered at a memorial service in New Jersey later in 2026.
Arrangements are in the care of James Funeral Home, 10520 Arahova Drive, Huntersville, North Carolina.
The article originally appeared in the June 4 – 10, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
