Ellen Bloodsworth

1915 - 2016

Ellen G. Bloodsworth

Salisbury-Ellen Greig Bloodsworth, of Lakeside Assisted Living, in Salisbury, Maryland, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2016. Her late husband, Charles L. Bloodsworth, preceded her in death, as did a stepson Charles Bloodsworth, Jr., a step grandson, Kenneth L. Gordy, and her daughter Elena.

Elizabeth Ellen Greig was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia on December 28, 1915 to Andrew Norrie Greig and Elizabeth Pusey Greig. On the untimely passing of her mother in 1923, she was raised by her aunt, Roxie Pusey, of Philadelphia Avenue, in Salisbury, Maryland. There she attended Upton Street and Wicomico County public schools. She excelled in her schoolwork, and gave the valedictory address to graduating seniors from Wicomico High School in 1933. Upon graduation from high school, she enrolled in the then Salisbury Normal School, now Salisbury University, graduating in 1936 with a degree in elementary education. While at Salisbury Normal she was active in the Glee club, the Drama Department, and served as president of the Carnean Literary Society.

Her first teaching appointment as was in Silver Spring, Maryland. There she met L. Edward LeBel, a native of Montréal, Québec, Canada, and they were married in 1937. In the following year, her first child, Louis Edward LeBel, Junior was born in Salisbury. In the following year, Edward LeBel, Senior, was appointed as a deputy manager for Firestone Corporation operations in Brazil. Sailing to Brazil in the spring of 1939, they settled initially in Sao Paulo, where her second child, Ellen Ann, was born in September, and who was known by her Brazilian name Elena.

With war breaking out in Europe in 1939, the LeBels moved from Sao Paulo to Rio while Edward LeBel continued to work for Firestone. In the fall of 1941, they decided that Ellen should return to the United States, where she rejoined her aunt Roxie Pusey in Salisbury. In May of 1942, her third child, Phillip Greig was born in May.

The stress of war led to a dissolution of the marriage in 1945. During the war, Ellen worked as a volunteer with the Red Cross at Peninsula General Hospital while raising her children. In 1946 she took up a position as personnel manager for the Rubberset Company, which was undertaking research in Salisbury on the potential of recycled agricultural products for use in paintbrushes for the parent company, Bristol Myers. During this time she became a charter member of the Eastern Shore Personnel Association, and served as secretary for five years.

Following several years with Rubberset, Ellen took a position as Employment Counselor with the Maryland State Department of Employment Security. She worked there until her retirement in 1977. Her work involved counseling of high school seniors in Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties, evaluating them through various testing program to help them consider career choices compatible with their achievements and aptitudes. During those years, she went back to school, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Salisbury State College at the age of 40, and then began graduate work in counseling at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

While working and pursuing her education, Ellen also determined that her three children should complete a college education and pursue careers in whatever region they chose. Edward was graduated from Swarthmore College in 1961, Elena from the University of Maryland in 1964, and Phillip Greig from Washington College in the same year. All three left the Eastern Shore to pursue successful careers elsewhere, returning to Salisbury for periodic family visits.

Throughout these years, Ellen remained active in the community as well as in her devotion to her faith. While raised in the Methodist Episcopal church, she had converted to Roman Catholicism when married to Edward LeBel. Following the divorce, she became a member of the Episcopal Church of St. Peter's in Salisbury. She raised her children with support from St. Peter's and through which developed many long-term friendships that endured throughout her life.

With her children out of college, Ellen met and married Lee A. Gordy, of Hebron, Maryland, in 1965. Married in 1966 and moving to Hebron, they enjoyed many years of friendship, through travels they undertook to visit relatives, and friends, and visiting new places in the United States and abroad. During this time, they were both active members of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Quantico. She was instrumental in helping to revise a long dormant Sunday school, serving as teacher and superintendent. Under her supervision the church choir was re-organized and vested. She also served on the vestry and as registrar of Spring Hill and Quantico parishes. At the diocesan level she was a member of the Episcopal Church Women and the committee on the lay ministry.

With Lee's passing in 1990, Ellen was once again on her own. Shortly thereafter she renewed a friendship with Charles L. Bloodsworth, whom she had known for many years when he and his first wife had lived nearby on Lakeside Drive. Charles and Ellen were married in 1991, and lived happily at 311 West Philadelphia Avenue until they moved to Harbor Pointe Assisted Living in 2012. Upon Charles' passing in 2014, Ellen then moved to Lakeside Assisted Living where she spent the rest of her life.

Ellen lived a full life built around her commitment to family, friends, and St. Peter's Church. All of those who knew her remarked on how young she was in looks and in spirit and this resulted in many friendships over the years. Her sense of humor was infectious and endeared her to many friends over the years.

Ellen is survived by her two sons, L. Edward LeBel, Jr. and Dr. Phillip G. LeBel and his wife Danièle, a stepson Lee N. Gordy and his wife Kitty, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a step-granddaughter, Kathryn Gordy Novakovich, and a step great grandson, Reis Novakovich, both of Hermosa Beach, California, a step-daughter, Susan Core and her husband Ross of Richmond, Virginia, a step grandson Ross Bloodsworth, and his wife Zahir, near Washington, D.C., two granddaughters by Phillip's first marriage, Natasha Mentzer and husband Stefan of New York City, and Melissa LeBel, of Sleepy Hollow, New York, and by two great grandchildren, Ethan James Mentzer and Aurelia Eve Mentzer of New York;

A memorial service will be held at St. Peter's Church on July 2nd, starting at 10:00 a.m. Friends and relatives are invited to attend. A graveside service will be held at another time to be confirmed. Those wishing to remember Ellen Bloodsworth may wish to make a donation to St. Peter's Church in Salisbury or to St. Philip's Church in Quantico.