Elizabeth Webb Ryland Groner Humphrey "Libby" Cecil

Elizabeth "Libby" Webb Ryland Groner Humphrey Cecil passed away in the loving arms of her devoted husband, Donald Cecil on Monday, March 10, 2008, at the University of Virginia Medical Center, after a brief illness.

Libby was born on November 11, 1924, in Kansas City, Missouri, and was the only child of Robert Knickerbocker Ryland and Alice Webb Ryland.

She was a graduate of Sweet Briar College in Virginia, where she earned a degree in Chemistry. Libby lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, from 1954 until 1967 where she was active in many areas, both professionally and culturally. She worked in the Marine Biology Laboratory of the University of Hawaii, and she and her dear friend, Sophie Cook, were avid supporters of the Honolulu Symphony as well as long time members of the Junior League.

Libby was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Hawaii School for Girls in 1964, and her oldest daughter, Laurie, was in the first graduating class of the school in 1967. All of Libby's other four children were born in Honolulu. She moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1967, because of the failing health of her husband, Frederic, who was still dealing with complications from injuries sustained while serving in North Africa during World War II. Her husband passed away not long after.

Libby was active at St John's Episcopal Church, a member of the Alliance Francaise and was a renowned hostess who entertained frequently with Hawaiian luaus. As a widow of ten years, she taught French at Holy Cross in Lynchburg before moving to Charlottesville in 1976 to do graduate work in French at the University of Virginia.

In Charlottesville, she enjoyed living in the University area, interacting with students in the neighborhood. As President of the Venable Neighborhood Association in Charlottesville, she was invited to speak on national network news concerning the issue of the University's ban on the Easter celebrations. Libby was an avid painter and renown cook and was widely known for her famous "The Grapefruitcake." This family traditional recipe from her Irish grandmother has since been resumed by her daughter, Heidi, and her granddaughter, Elizabeth, of Virginia Beach.

For many years, Libby was a bed assignment clerk for the University of Virginia Medical Center and was much loved and respected by the patients, residents, staff, and administrators of the Hospital because of her caring nature and positive disposition. It was there she met her current husband, Donald R. Cecil, who was a bed assignment clerk on weekends and holidays for 30 years as well as being a French teacher in the Charlottesville City schools.

She was preceded in death by her eldest son, Robert Ryland Humphrey.

She is survived by her husband Donald R. Cecil, and their children, Laurie Groner Tillett and Edward of Danville, Virginia; Mary Anne Celeste Humphrey of West Palm Beach, Florida; Heidi Elizabeth Louise Humphrey Larum and Nikolas of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Harold Theodore Humphrey and Lori of St Louis, Missouri; William Brian Cecil of Charlottesville, Virginia; Katherine Branner Cecil Von Canal and Marc of Palm Bay, Florida; and Daniel Eric Cecil, who is currently a Ph.D. candidate in engineering at the University of Virginia. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Ryland (1Lt, USMC) and Kelly Drennan; Elizabeth, Nikolai, Gavin, Hannah, Katherine, Patrick, and Gideon Larum; Lillian and Charlotte Humphrey; and Julia and Arianna Von Canal. All of them will miss their "Tutu" greatly.

Libby greatly enjoyed visiting with the children of the Cove Child Development Center near her home in Covesville and requested that in lieu of flowers, any memorial contributions be made to the center in her name.

Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2008, at Covesville Presbyterian Church, 5531 Covesville Lane, Covesville, Virginia. Private burial followed at the family's cemetery.

Arrangements by the Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel of Lovingston, 434263 -4097.

This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.