Obituary for Elizabeth Hitchcock Arrington
Elizabeth Hitchcock Arrington, of State College, PA, died peacefully in her home on December 12, 2022. Elizabeth, or Beth as we called her, was born in Orlando, FL on August 9, 1943, to Paul Revere and Daisy Ryan Hitchcock. She grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina with her parents, her grandmother and her three younger sisters Jenny, Jean, and Judy. She was a member of Myers Park Baptist Church and was baptized there in 1963.
Beth graduated from Myers Park High School in 1961. She earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1965) and a Master’s degree in Education from Penn State (1971). She worked many jobs during her long life, including waitress, secretary, art teacher, mental health teletherapist, and nursing home aide. She also did many hours of volunteer work, including being a Girl Scout leader for six years. In 1967 she married Charles Gayton Arrington of Alexandria, Virginia. They were married for over forty years and had two daughters together.
Beth was a loving sister, daughter, mother, wife, grandmother and friend. She touched the hearts of all who knew her. She will be remembered for her beautiful handwriting, her artistic ability, her poems, and her generosity to everyone she loved. Beth was a lady of many talents, including singing and acting. In 2015 she performed in the musical 1776 at the Boal Barn. Beth lived her life the way she wanted to and didn’t let the rapid pace of the world affect her. We can all learn from her and try to live in the moment, as she did.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her younger sister Jean Hitchcock Bridger. She is survived by her daughter Kathleen Arrington, son-in-law Thomas Maher and their children Daisy, Samuel, and Abigail Maher (State College, PA) and her daughter Anne Arrington, son-in-law Tim Reynolds and their son Jake Reynolds (Charlottesville, VA). Also surviving are her sister Jenny Hitchcock (Greensboro, NC), her sister Judy Hitchcock Branson and brother-in-law Ed Branson (Chapel Hill, NC), brother-in-law George Bridger (Wilmington, NC), former brother-in-law L.G. Leake (Charlottesville, VA), and many beloved family members and friends.
Beth fought breast cancer with grace, humility, and strength. She could not have done this without the wonderful doctors and nurses who cared for her. The family would like to express their gratitude to everyone at UVA Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, Mount Nittany Medical Center, and UPMC Family Hospice for helping Beth fight her disease and making her comfortable during her last days.
A memorial service will be held on February 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County (UUFCC), 780 Waupelani Drive, State College. Beth will be buried in Charlottesville, VA, where her husband Charles is also buried. As she was a vegetarian and environmentalist, the family will be planting a tree in her honor.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to UUFCC at 780 Waupelani Drive, State College, PA 16801, Centre Helps at 410 S. Fraser Street, State College, PA 16801, or the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop at 101 S. Fraser Street, State College, PA 16801.
Beth graduated from Myers Park High School in 1961. She earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1965) and a Master’s degree in Education from Penn State (1971). She worked many jobs during her long life, including waitress, secretary, art teacher, mental health teletherapist, and nursing home aide. She also did many hours of volunteer work, including being a Girl Scout leader for six years. In 1967 she married Charles Gayton Arrington of Alexandria, Virginia. They were married for over forty years and had two daughters together.
Beth was a loving sister, daughter, mother, wife, grandmother and friend. She touched the hearts of all who knew her. She will be remembered for her beautiful handwriting, her artistic ability, her poems, and her generosity to everyone she loved. Beth was a lady of many talents, including singing and acting. In 2015 she performed in the musical 1776 at the Boal Barn. Beth lived her life the way she wanted to and didn’t let the rapid pace of the world affect her. We can all learn from her and try to live in the moment, as she did.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her younger sister Jean Hitchcock Bridger. She is survived by her daughter Kathleen Arrington, son-in-law Thomas Maher and their children Daisy, Samuel, and Abigail Maher (State College, PA) and her daughter Anne Arrington, son-in-law Tim Reynolds and their son Jake Reynolds (Charlottesville, VA). Also surviving are her sister Jenny Hitchcock (Greensboro, NC), her sister Judy Hitchcock Branson and brother-in-law Ed Branson (Chapel Hill, NC), brother-in-law George Bridger (Wilmington, NC), former brother-in-law L.G. Leake (Charlottesville, VA), and many beloved family members and friends.
Beth fought breast cancer with grace, humility, and strength. She could not have done this without the wonderful doctors and nurses who cared for her. The family would like to express their gratitude to everyone at UVA Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, Mount Nittany Medical Center, and UPMC Family Hospice for helping Beth fight her disease and making her comfortable during her last days.
A memorial service will be held on February 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County (UUFCC), 780 Waupelani Drive, State College. Beth will be buried in Charlottesville, VA, where her husband Charles is also buried. As she was a vegetarian and environmentalist, the family will be planting a tree in her honor.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to UUFCC at 780 Waupelani Drive, State College, PA 16801, Centre Helps at 410 S. Fraser Street, State College, PA 16801, or the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop at 101 S. Fraser Street, State College, PA 16801.