Elizabeth Louise Dunford

1919 - 2016

ELIZABETH LOUISE JOSLYN
QUALTIERE DUNFORD
1919 - 2016
AUGUSTA - Elizabeth Louise Dunford, 96, of Augusta, joined her heavenly Father, her parents and her brothers and sister on October 31, 2016. Elizabeth was a remarkable person who in a time when women were supposed to play secondary, supportive roles was a leader. She was a person of strong faith who put that faith into action. After graduating from Syracuse Normal School, she began her teaching career. As a working single parent with two young children, she earned her Bachelor's degree from Bridgewater State College. In 1986, she was awarded her M.S. in Education from Syracuse University. She took courses at night and during the summer and paid for that degree by supervising student teachers.
Most of her 39 years of elementary school teaching was done in New York State in the Onondaga Central School District with the rest being done in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico. After retiring, she because a VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) in Hollywood, Florida where she helped set up after school programs, a day care center and hands-on nutrition classes. From there she moved to the Florida United Methodist Children's Home in Enterprise, Florida where she worked as a house parent and trainer for three years. She settled in Orange City, Fla. where she did volunteer work for and eventually joined the Orange City United Methodist Church. She worked diligently with the Southwest Volusia Habitat for Humanity as a member, an officer, a volunteer in the construction of houses, and at the SW Volusia Habitat Thrift Shop which was started when she was President. Her various awards included the first service award given by the New York State Outdoor Education Association and the first golden Hammer service award given by Florida's SW Volusia Habitat for Humanity. In 2003, Elizabeth was named and honored as the 2003 Volunteer of the Year for Orange City. In 2006, she moved to Maine and shortly thereafter became a member of the Green Street United Methodist Church where she continued her commitment to helping others by serving on the church's Mission Committee and working on the Angel Food Suppers.
But her proudest moments were reserved for her family. She is survived by her four children, T. Kathleen Dunford of Augusta, Michael Qualtiere of Arlington, Mass., Jocelyn Weissman of Bethesda, Md., Cynthia Shippers of Syracuse, N.Y. She loved her sons-in-law, Dr. Allan Weissman and Harold "Ike" Shippers. And then there were her precious grandchildren, David, Shira, Melissa, Justin, Brandon and Christina; which led to her great-grandchildren, Ellis, Zachary, Breanna, and Sammy; and finally her great-great-grandson Tavion.
A celebration of her life will be held in Augusta at Green Street United Methodist Church on Saturday, Nov.12 at 10 a.m. Next week there will also be visiting hours and internment in Syracuse, N. Y.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Missions Programs at Green Street United Methodist Church, Habitat for Humanity, or a charity of your choosing