Elizabeth T. Griffiths

Elizabeth Tupper Griffiths, 91, died on the morning of Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at Liberty Commons Nursing Home in North Chatham. She was born at home in Roxbury, N.Y., on April 11, 1920, the only child of George W. Tupper and Angie Preston Tupper. Following graduation from Roxbury Central School, she went on to graduate from St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing in New York City, earning her R.N. in 1941. She also attended Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York. After one of her sister nurses had to bow out of a date because of work, Betty substituted in and met the love of her life and future husband, William T. Griffiths Jr., whom she married on December 24, 1942. Prior to retiring in 1982 in North Chatham, Betty lived in many other places, including Tupper Lake, N.Y., Charleston, W.Va, Leominister, Media, Pa., and Marlboro, N.J. Most of these locations were postings of her husband, who was a mechanical engineer for the DuPont Corporation. While in these various communities, she engaged in public service organizations such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Civil Defense, P.T.A., and she was very active in the Republican Party. She volunteered at hospitals and sang in her church choirs. She was primarily active in the parishes of St. Marks Episcopal Church in Leominster and St. Christophers Episcopal Church in Chatham. In Chatham, she was also a member of the Chatham Historical Society and the Creative Arts Center. For many years she was the nurse at Camp Wanocksett Boy Scout Camp in Jaffrey, N.H. She made more than 200 quilts in her lifetime and was a member of several quilting groups. She loved to travel, visiting most of the states and many European countries. She was on the board of directors of the John More Association, a Scottish genealogical association based in Roxbury, N.Y., for nearly 30 years. She attended many quinquennial reunions of this organization from 1920 to 2005. She was predeceased by her husband, William, in 2001, and by her son, Steven Carter Griffiths, in 1945. She is survived by her three other children, Peter Griffiths of Las Vegas, Nev., James Griffiths of Ukiah, Calif., and Annie Ashton of Austin, Texas; and by her two grandchildren, Sophie and Zo Ashton. There will be a memorial service Tuesday, May 10, at 2 p.m., at St. Christophers Episcopal Church in Chatham, followed by catered refreshments in Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Christophers Memorial Fund, 625 Main St., Chatham, MA 02633. Interment will be in the St. Christophers Church Columbarium. The Nickerson Funeral Homes are in charge of arrangements.