Obituary of Elizabeth R. Harrison

Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Robinson Harrison died peacefully in her home on January 15, 2018, after a long illness.

Born in Washington, DC on June 28, 1933, Betsy was a longtime resident of Herndon, VA and later Earlysville, VA.  In 1955, she graduated from Mary Baldwin College with a major in music and married her high school sweetheart Ralph H. Harrison, Jr. 

As a charter member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, she sang in the choir for many years.  She was involved in many community and church activities in ways that made a difference in the lives of others.  While she was the chairperson of Christian Community Action at Trinity, Betsy partnered with other volunteers to start and maintain The Closet with special emphasis on collecting clothing for pre-school and school-aged children.  She coordinated with other local churches to expand collection and distribution efforts throughout the county and overseas and with Fairfax County personnel to obtain the names of local families needing assistance.  Around the time The Closet was initiated a food pantry was added.  She enjoyed bible study and served multiple years as a Community Bible Study Core Leader while in Northern Virginia.  After moving to Earlysville, she greatly enjoyed Christian fellowship at Tabor Presbyterian Church in Crozet, VA.

Betsy was an excellent baker.  Her chocolate chip cookies were sold locally.  She hand painted woodworking products created by her husband which were available by custom order.  These included re-creations of historic buildings around Northern Virginia and her college alma mater called “Miniature Memories”.  She loved gardening, art, and music of every kind.  She lived with kindness every day.  She was beloved and will be missed by all.

She was predeceased by her mother and father, Kathryn H. and F.W. Robinson, her sister and brother-in-law, Frances Susan and William F. Enderle, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bernice P. and Ralph H. Harrison and brothers-in-law Joseph W. Harrison and Gen. David Gordon Harrison (VAARNG).  She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years and caregiver, Capt. Ralph H. Harrison, Jr. (USNR), her children Ralph III and Sharon (Tom), sisters-in-law Virginia (Ginger) B. Harrison and Betty (Betsy) W. Harrison, and many other family members and friends.

The viewing will be held on Monday, January 22, 2018 from 11:00 AM with a brief service following at 12:00 noon at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170, followed by interment at Chestnut Grove Cemetery, 831 Dranesville Road, Herndon, VA 20170.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory may be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinson.org; Trinity Presbyterian Church 651 Dranesville Rd., Herndon, VA 20170 or Tabor Presbyterian Church PO Box 446, Crozet, VA 22932.