Betsy Buchanan Fishback

Biography

Betsy Buchanan Fishback, 58, died peacefully at home Saturday, January 17th, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born in Valley Forge, PA, the daughter of the late William Cooper Buchanan and Kathleen Kern Buchanan, who survives her. Betsy graduated from The Shipley School and Sweet Briar College, where she was President of the Riding Council. She, with Anne Bozarth, started the equine program at Midway College in 1979. Betsy later coached the University of Kentucky’s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Riding Team and taught horseback riding lessons to people of all ages and levels of riding at the family farm, Trackside. Eventually she retired from her teaching career to help her daughters achieve their equestrian goals. Betsy’s main interests, aside from her family, were the preservation of land and hunter/jumper horse shows. Betsy served as a board member and DC of the Keeneland Pony Club, a board member and past president of the Pisgah Historical District, a board member for Masterson Equestrian Trust Foundation, a board member and at one time the director of the Kentucky Hunter Jumper Association, the director of community relations for the Kentucky Horse Shows held at the Kentucky Horse Park, and in the summer of 2007 was invited to participate in the United States Equestrian Federation Summit for Collegiate Riding. In recent years she was heavily involved with the creation of SPEAKS, “Supporting and Promoting Equine Awareness in Kentucky’s Schools”, and Puissance Alliance, which helps promote horses and the hunter/jumper show horse industry in Kentucky, particularly at the Kentucky Horse Park. In 2005 she received the Lynn Williams Award at the ASPCA Midwest Regionals and in 2006 the Edna Lytle Trophy at the USEF Pony Finals. Betsy was devoted to her family. In addition to her mother, who resides in Keswick, Virginia, she is survived by her husband, William Davis Fishback, Jr., daughters Leslie Fishback Cutchins and husband Chip of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sarah Davis Fishback of Versailles, and grandchildren, Cooper Anne Cutchins and Cecil Vaughan Cutchins, III of Virginia Beach. She is also survived by her sisters, Kathleen “Winkie” Buchanan Motley and husband Hugh, Deborah Ann Buchanan, and niece Sheila Camp Motley all of Keswick, Virginia. Visitation will be held at the family’s residence, Pisgah Pike, Versailles, Kentucky from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 20th. On Wednesday, January 21st a graveside service will be held for family members. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, P.O. Box 13155, Lexington, Kentucky 40511 or the Markey Cancer Foundation, 800 Rose Street, CC160, Lexington, KY 40536.

Facts

Born: October 25, 1950
Place of Birth: Valley Forge, PA
Death: January 17, 2009
Place of Death: Woodford Co., KY

Survivors

Katherine Kern Buchanan, Mother
William Davis Fishback, Jr., Spouse
Leslie Fishback Cutchins, Daughter
Sarah Davis Fishback, Daughter
Cooper Anne Cutchins, Grandchild
Cecil Vaughn Cutchins, III, Grandchild
Kathleen "Winkie" Motley, Sister
Deborah Ann Buchanan, Sister
Sheila Camp Motley, Niece

Services

Visitation

Tuesday January 20, 2009, 3 to 7 pm at Trackside Farm
Click for Map and Directions

Funeral

Wednesday January 21, 2009, Private
Click for Map and Directions

Donations

Memorial donations may be made to:
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, P. O. Box 13155, Lexington, KY 40511