Elizabeth Merrick Balderston

ELIZABETH MERRICK BALDERSTON, born October 19, 1918, passed away peacefully in her home in Corona del Mar, California on May 28, 2015 at the age of 96. Elizabeth was born in Weiser, Idaho and raised in Portland, Oregon. Biz, as she was known to all her friends, left Oregon to attend Scripps College in Claremont where she fell in love with the beautiful campus and with California. She graduated from Scripps in 1940 with a degree in psychology and married Henry Gollong that summer. Their son Michael was born in 1944. Henry, a World War II Army Air Force pilot, was tragically killed in the Pacific Theater in 1945. In 1948 Elizabeth married Walter P. Balderston, Jr. (Bud) and they settled in La Canada, California where they raised their five children. She also found time for the Assistance League, Planned Parenthood, Five Acres, library studies, and other volunteer activities. She was active in the Scripps College Alumni Association throughout her adult life. After Walter's death in 1987 she moved to Corona del Mar to the family's 1930s beach house. She loved being surrounded by her family at picnics in the park and annual Christmas gatherings at the Beach House. She was fortunate to have caring neighbors and came to be known as the queen of the "Begonia hood." Biz was an active volunteer for many years at the Newport Beach Library bookstore. Travel was always an important part of her life. Biz and Bud explored Europe and the U.S.A on many trips, and shared relaxing times at their Maui condo. After Bud's death she ventured to Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and other travel adventures. Elizabeth was a woman of quiet grace, always making sure that others were taken care of. She was a lover of books, birds, gardens, travel, and her friends and family, especially the babies. She raised five children and instilled in them a sense of responsibility to help others and to contribute to the greater community.She is survived by her children Michael (Patti), Anne, Susan (Scott), Katherine (Cameron), and Thomas (Ellen); grandchildren Laurel, Jeff, Nick, Kellen, Colin, Rachel, and Sarah; and great grandchildren Michael, Will, and Jane Elizabeth; nephews Pat Wright, Scot Merrick, Doug and Bruce Pomeroy, and niece Claire Lucas. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert Emerson and Anne Watson Merrick, her first husband Henry Gollong (1945), her two military pilot brothers Rob and Dick, her sister Marjorie, and her husband of 40 years, Walter Peaslee Balderston, Jr. (1987). She survived more tragic losses in her lifetime than most people. She inspired us all with her powers of recovery and resilience, finding the joy of living and loving again and again. Her family is deeply grateful to her caregivers from Caring Companions for the loving care they gave her in the final year of her life, and to the nurses from OC Hospice who kept her comfortable in her final days.Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Elizabeth's memory can be sent to Five Acres (www.5acres.org), Reach Out and Read (www.reachoutandread.org), or Napili Kai Foundation (http://napilikaifoundation.org/).