Eloise L Harbeson

Eloise Linton Harbeson, 97, a lifelong resident of Tallahassee, passed away peacefully at her Betton Hills home on July 10, 2022. She was predeceased by her husband, Kelly R. Harbeson, and by her son, E. Cobb Harbeson, of Jacksonville. She is survived by another son, Kelly R. Harbeson, III of Crawfordville, by her devoted daughter-in-law, Janice Harbeson, of Jacksonville, and by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Active throughout her long life, Eloise exercised every morning and jogged into her seventies, after which time she walked regularly. She will be remembered by friends and neighbors as always being beautifully dressed except when she was working in her flower garden. Apart from her professional and family activities, gardening was one of her passions. The other was ballroom dancing, which she enjoyed up until a few weeks before her death. She danced several times a week and participated in several national competitions. She was a Tallahassee historian and both the teller and enjoyer of a good story. Eloise had a keen sense of humor and always had a smile on her face. She enjoyed the company of a host of friends, relatives, and colleagues over her many years.

Born in 1924 in Lloyd, Florida, to Perry and Essie Linton, Eloise attended Florida High School, from which she was graduated in 1941. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was the recipient of the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award. She later attended college at Florida State University, where she obtained her Bachelors, Masters, and Advanced Masters degrees. In graduate school she was a member of Beta Phi Mu, an international honor society for students of Library and Information Science. Thereafter, she served on the FSU faculty from 1957 to 1973, having been Science Librarian in Strozier Library from 1957 to 1967. She served in the School of Library and Information Science from 1967 until 1973, when she left to assume the position of Director of Library Services at Tallahassee Community College, where she remained until her retirement in 1992.

Eloise was President of the Florida Library Association in 1976-77. She also was a member of the American Library Association, the Southeastern Library Association, the Florida Association for Media in Education, and the Learning Resources Committee of Florida Community Colleges. In addition to her many professional activities, Eloise was an avid gardener. Her membership in the Tallahassee Garden Club began in 1947, and she served as its President in 1956-57. She served on the National Council of Flower Show Judges and was a Life Member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. In 2010 through 2012 she served on the Board of Trustees of the Pillar of Pride of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, established to provide special recognition for members of purpose, pride, and productivity in garden club work.

A member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Eloise served as a member of Circle 1 of United Methodist Women, Altar Guild.

A private graveside service will be held on July 21, 2022, at Oakland Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CulleysMeadowWood.com for the Harbeson family.