Elizabeth Cave

Elizabeth 'Betsy' Anne Cave died early Thursday morning, May 6, 2010, at her home after a brief illness, surrounded by her family and her beloved pets, Jenny and Dinah. Ms. Cave was born March 21, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Harry Edgar Cave and Elizabeth Channon Harris Cave. She graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in June of 1941 and attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where she was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. For seven summers she was the assistant director of the Mansfield Children's Theatre under the late Hal McCuen. During the school year of those summers, she also worked as secretary/playground director of the Country Day School. She studied art under the Hungarian painter, John Bernat, and was one of four of his students who worked with him painting the ceiling of St. Peter's Church in Mansfield, Ohio. In 1971 she graduated magna cum laude from Ashland University and taught art at John Sherman High School from 1971-1973. She also taught art in the Madison Local School District as Mrs. Newbill from 1975-1984. Upon retirement from teaching, she volunteered her time as an art teacher at the Ohio State Reformatory. Around the same time, Ms. Cave began a career in the medium of contemporary 'art' quilts. Her work won many honors and was included in many outstanding exhibitions and publications. Her pieces hang in many private and corporate collections around the world. Five of her quilts hang in the permanent collection of Ashland University, one in the Convocation Center and four in the new large student building. In 1990, she resumed the use of her maiden name, Cave.

Ms. Cave is survived by one son, Peter Bruce Mimi McGinty of Columbus, Ohio; two daughters, Anne Channon Wendling Ron Kash and Elizabeth Leigh 'Liza' Kim Catron, both of Mansfield. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Matthew and Christopher Gramly, both of San Francisco, CA, Elizabeth Catron, Lauren Catron, Alex McGinty and Annie McGinty, all of Columbus, OH; and a brother and sister-in-law, Robert E. and Pauli Cave of Palm Desert, CA. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother and sister-in-law, William E. and Peggy M. Cave and one niece, Nancy Jo Perry.

Ms. Cave was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church and designed and made a large rood cloth which hangs above the altar in the chapel of the church. She was also a member of the Mansfield Art Center, the Ohio Designer Craftsmen, and a founding member of the Art Quilt Network.

Friends may visit from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road, Mansfield. A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 13 in Grace Episcopal Church, 41 Bowman Street, Mansfield with Rev. Joe Ashby and Rector Emeritus David S. Sipes officiating. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park. The family requests that flowers be omitted. Charitable contributions may be made to the Richland County Dog Shelter, the Humane Society of Richland County, MedCentral Hospice or, in memory of her beloved friend Emily Campbell Brown, to the Charles and Emily Brown Scholarship Fund through the Richland County Foundation.