Elizabeth Folger Erlin

Elizabeth Folger Erlin Born in San Francisco, June 21, 1912, Elizabeth (Betty) Erlin, the first child of Grace Haley and Roy S. Folger, passed away July 23, 2006 at the Palo Alto Commons in Palo Alto, at the age of 94. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Frank Erlin Jr, who died in 1997; by her brother Roy A. Folger, and by her sister Grace M. Haid. She is survived by her two sons and their wives, Peter Folger Erlin and Susana of South Portland, Maine, and Michael William Erlin and Claire of La Honda. She also leaves her sister, Mary Folger Barrett and her husband Larry of Palm Desert, her childhood friend Mary Louise Moreton Canfield of Palo Alto; five grandchildren; Shawn Meisl and her husband Chris of Jackson, WY, Matt Erlin and his wife Ebba Segerberg of St. Louis, MO, Tim Erlin and his wife Belinda of Minneapolis, MN, Michael Erlin Jr and his wife Lee of Sydney, Australia, and Christopher Erlin and his wife Cheri of San Rafael, as well as six great- grandchildren, Stuart and Mitchell Smith of Wyoming, Noah and Sofia Erlin of St. Louis and Conner and Clancy Erlin of Sydney, as well as many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Betty was raised in Palo Alto and started teaching piano as a teenager. She graduated from Castilleja School in 1931. In 1934 she met and married Frank Erlin Jr. In 1938 they build their home on Byron St. where they lived together for the rest of their lives. The next year they adopted twin sons, Peter and Michael. Betty later resumed teaching piano and music to students in Palo Alto, and did so for the next 40 years. She was president of the Walter Hays PTA. She had a wonderful ability to reach out to children especially with music. She was a volunteer at C.A.R. and an original docent in the "Music for Minors" program. She taught music appreciation to 4th and 5th graders at Walter Hays School, and was honored with a special concert at Walter Hays that gathered many of her students from years past. She and Frank loved to travel; they enjoyed their house at Aptos, but mostly they loved each other. A Memorial Service is planned for later in the summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Corpus Christi Monastery, Menlo Park or Pathways Hospice of Sunnyvale.