Canterbury, Elizabeth

Elizabeth (Betty) Canterbury, age 96, died at 2:00 am on March 18, 2011 in Dayton, Ohio. She was born April 9, 1914 in Elgin, Illinois, daughter of Dayse M. Jackson and Herbert S. Bobbitt. She had one younger brother, John, who preceded her in death. She moved with her family to Bloomington, Indiana and later to Bushnell, Illinois where she taught in a “one room school house”. Later she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Western Illinois University and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois. She was an elementary school teacher in Athens, Illinois and a library teacher in the Springfield, Illinois school system.

She married Arthur Lehman Canterbury in 1937 who preceded her in death. She is survived by a son, Lynn Canterbury (wife, Arlene) from Alcalde, New Mexico, and daughters, Susan Christian (husband, Mel) from Vandalia, Ohio and Sarah Canterbury (husband, Peter Lowes) from Sharon, Vermont as well as one nephew, John Bobbitt (wife, Trixie), and one grandniece, Gwen Bobbitt. She has three grandsons: Dannon Canterbury, Jesse Lowes, (wife, Francesca), Matthew Christian, (wife, Emily) one step grandson, Jason Manchester-Jones, (wife, Louri). Three granddaughters: Mitra Chester, (husband, Aaron), Heather Malcomson, (husband, Shawn), and Jody Lowes. Five great grandchildren: Willow and Kalel Chester, Jane Malcomson, Evelyn and Henry Thomas Christian (Henry Thomas Christian was born on March 18, 2011—–just several hours after the passing of his great grandmother), and four step great grandchildren, Melody Archuleta, Rosemary, Erin, and Jamie Manchester-Jones.

She was a member of the Athens United Methodist Church and the Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church, where she was a church librarian. She was consulting librarian for the Athens Library and had been a volunteer at Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky and Washington Street Mission, Springfield, Illinois. A long time resident of Athens and Springfield, Illinois she moved to Grace Brethren Village, Englewood, Ohio in 2008 where she became actively involved in her retirement community and the Concord United Methodist Church.

She was loved by her family and friends and gave freely of her talents whether by organizing books in a library, teaching knitting, or fixing tea for a neighbor. She loved the natural world and gave joy to all around her. She will be missed by many.

A memorial service will be held at the Mott and Henning Funeral Home, Athens, Illinois at 11:00 am Monday, March 28st.Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.A luncheon will be served at the Athens United Methodist Church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Betty’s name to: —— Athens Municipal Library, 410 East Hargrave, Athens, IL 62613

—— Washington Street Mission, 408 North 4th Street, Springfield, Illinois, 62702

—— Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, 1000 Aullwood Road, Dayton, Ohio, 45414

—— The Noble Circle Project, P.O. Box 750192, Dayton, Ohio, 45475 (The Noble Circle Project is a local support group for women cancer survivors).