Lucille Elder Harms passed on October 1, 2013 at her residence at Brightview of Westminster in Maryland. She was born on a farm in Dexter, Indiana on May 26, 1918 to Kate Ewing Elder and Thomas L. Elder. She entered Indiana University at age 14, the youngest person at the time to do so, and graduated college at age 18 – taking law and education. Lucille, with three college friends, traveled by Model A Ford to Mexico, teaching English for a time, before returning to her home town to teach school.
She worked in California at the Long Beach Shipyards. She met her husband Arnold during WWII while he was on leave in Florida and she was traveling to Havana Cuba. They married and she continued her teaching career, which lasted almost 40 years. They lived in Maryland for almost 50 years, before moving to Gainesville, Florida in 1994. They traveled around the world several times. They were married 61 years before Arnold’s death in 2006.
Lucille never had a bad thing to say about anyone, never really complained, even when times were bad, and was loved by everyone she met. No one believed this small, shy woman had the adventures she did in her life. She was a piano player and even played trumpet in college with Louis Armstrong. She was a mean tap dancer, too. She was always game for anything, and learned to scuba dive at age 75! She could drive a tractor, fly the old stick planes her brother had, milk goats, and handle horses. Even in her late 80’s and early 90’s, she would go on canoe trips with us.
Lucille is survived by and will be sorely missed by her two children, Peggy Goldberg and her husband Bill of Citra Florida, Barbara Hauck and her husband Bill of Sykesville, Maryland, grandchildren Kari Archambeault, and Toby Meacham, and a great-grandaughter Kylie Archambeault. Her sister, Kathryn Holtz, and nephew Edward Elder reside in Indiana.
She will be laid to rest with Arnold at Forest Meadows Central Cemetery. A Celebration of her life will be held at the “Chapel in the Meadows” at Forest Meadows Central, 4100 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL on Monday, October 7, 2013 from 10:30-11:00 AM with funeral services at 11:00 AM.
My darling Aunt Lucille was always “real” and a joy to be around. Her kindness and good cooking were some of my best childhood memories. Heaven has welcomed a fantastic lady!
Thank you Sandy, Mom cared for you more than you know. She was asking about you just last week- glad you were happy…
It has been to my great benefit that I have known both Lucille and her husband Arnold for more than 50 years. Fifty years ago, in October of 1963 I was Arnold’s student taking his course in the problems of American democracy. Both Lucile and Arnold have been friends ever since. The provided guidance that only maturity can give. They are two people that made life better for so many of their students and friends.
This is not a time for sadness, but rather for rejoicing in thanks for all the gifts that they have given us.
Thanks you so much Joe, They thought a lot of you…Lucille was quite a lady- active to the end.
Our World won’t be the same without her, but the next world has gained one heck of a soul…
Peggy
To the entire family…. my deepest sympathy for your loss. Lucille Harms was one of the most giving human beings I have ever encountered. I knew her for over 35 years, and in that time I never knew her to have a single mean spirited thought, and she ALWAYS thought of others before herself. I will always remember her “mile high pies” and the second turkey at Thanksgiving. She has probably started cooking in heaven already. God bless her.
David
David,
Thank you so much…we miss her so much. At least the last few years of her life she did not have to cook, and even though it wasn’t as good, enjoyed the fruits of other peoples labors.
She touched a lot of peoples lives over the years…
Hope you are well.
Peggy