Elizabeth Griffiths

CHATHAM – Elizabeth Tupper Griffiths died at Liberty Commons Nursing Home in North Chatham, MA on the morning of May 3, 2011. She was born at home in Roxbury, New York, 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. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in New York City, earning her R.N. in 1941. She also attended Teacher’s 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 NY, Charleston WV, Leominster MA, Media PA, and Marlboro NJ. 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. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Leominster and St. Christopher’s 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, NH. She made over 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, NY 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 NV, James Griffiths of Ukiah CA, and Annie Ashton of Austin TX, and by her two grandchildren, Sophie and Zoë Ashton.

There will be a memorial service at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Chatham on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 2:00pm, followed by catered refreshments in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Christopher’s Memorial Fund, 625 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633. Inurnment will be in the St. Christopher’s Church Columbarium. The Nickerson Funeral Homes are in charge of arrangements.