Elizabeth Elmore Service

On June 28, 2015 a memorial service for Elizabeth (“Lissy”, “Liz”) Elmore 1947-2015 was held at the Huntingdon Valley Country Club near her home in Rydal outside of Philadelphia, PA. Her family and friends submitted photos to show at the service. These photos are displayed below. Click on one to see it large, then start a slideshow in the lower left.

Elizabeth Elmore of Rydal passed away peacefully at home on June 15 after a 19 month battle with brain cancer. She was 67. Born and raised in Swarthmore, she was the second daughter of William C. Elmore, physics professor emeritus at Swarthmore College and Barbara Page Elmore. She graduated from Swarthmore High School in 1965, and completed a BA in Economics with Honors from Lake Forest College in 1969. Elizabeth earned an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1972, among the first generation of women to graduate from this prestigious degree program.

Elizabeth launched her career in banking during college as a summer teller for PNC Bank. Her professional experience quickly grew to span numerous areas of the industry, including correspondent banking and corporate lending to communications, media, and retail companies. She held positions at Philadelphia National, First Wisconsin, CoreStates, First Union, and Wachovia Banks.

In 2002, Elizabeth took an early retirement from Wells Fargo Bank where she had served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director, and turned her interest in volunteerism from part to full time. Working in particular with organizations supporting women and families in underserved communities, Elizabeth was a passionate advocate for women and freely gave her time and talents to help others.

During her early working years, Elizabeth served on the board of her daughters’ school, Trinity Cooperative Day Nursery Center in Swarthmore, assisting with budgeting and treasury work. When a banking friend became involved with WOAR (Women Organized against Rape), Elizabeth was introduced to CHOICE, an organization supporting reproductive rights for women, where she later served on the Board of Directors. In 1986, she joined the board of OPTIONS in Philadelphia and later became involved with Career Wardrobe, an organization dedicated to empowering women via employment and education, where she served on the Board of Directors and as treasurer.

Elizabeth was involved with and a supporter of Women’s Way since its foundational days in the 1970’s. The Women’s Way 12th Annual Fall Gala in October 2014 was held in Elizabeth’s honor, in recognition of her commitment to women’s equality and her ardent support of Women’s Way since its inception.

In addition to her volunteer work, Elizabeth enjoyed golfing and traveling, especially in Europe.

A woman of many talents, Elizabeth was an excellent cook and an accomplished seamstress, knitter and quilter. Family was important to Elizabeth, and she was the glue that brought geographically dispersed siblings together many times. She was a loving friend, mother, daughter, and wife; an elegant woman in every way. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Michael Grimes; two daughters Allyn Dullighan and Claire Dullighan Ramamurthy; and three grandchildren; as well as two sisters, Mary Leigh Elmore Miller and Page Elmore Evett, a brother, David Elmore, and her first husband, John Dullighan.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday June 28th at 11am at Huntingdon Valley Country Club

In lieu of flowers, donations in Elizabeth’s memory may be made to: Career Wardrobe, 21 South 12th Street, Suite 110 Philadelphia, PA 19107 (www.careerwardrobe.org).

-- Janet (text) and David (photos)