Lewis W. ELFORD

ELFORD, Lewis W. Age 68, passed away on September 27, 2012, from complications after heart surgery. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA and had resided in the Jupiter area since 2001. Mr. Elford worked for the Department of Defense, and then became a career Foreign Service Officer serving with the U.S. Information Agency and later the State Department from 1976 to 1998. His duties took him throughout the globe, and he was able to visit every U.S. Embassy and Consulate in the world during an 18 year period. He and his wife pursued a post-retirement career as antiques dealers and enjoyed traveling throughout the eastern U.S. offering their glass and porcelain "treasures" for sale at major antiques shows. His family and friends will remember a remarkable man of integrity who loved his country and honored those who defended her in our search for world peace. He was a true and loyal friend to all who knew him. With a spectrum of interests ranging from U.S. foreign policy to literature, the theatre, music, sailing on Chesapeake Bay, and tracing his family history in Wales and England, Mr. Elford was never at a loss for words. His friends loved his incisive sense of humor, the twinkle in his eye, and his great cooking. Cherishing his memory are his loving wife and best friend of 30 years, Carol Elford; his brother, Thomas Roy (Diana); his nephew, Brian (Mary) and their children, his sister-in-law, Lyn (Bill) Thomas and their children, and a host of friends in Florida and Washington. Also missing him are his devoted Shih-Tzu's, Pepper and Ginger. The family thanks Dr. Katz and his team at the Heart Institute of Palm Beach Gardens Hospital for their heroic efforts, and the staff of the Cardiac ICU and the Hospice of Palm Beach who provided such loving care for Lewis, Carol and his family. Mr. Elford's life was remembered at a funeral Mass on Monday, October 1, at St. Jude Catholic Church in Tequesta. Donations in his name may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407.