West Lebanon, N.H. — Elizabeth (Betty) Giles Ely died on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, at the Vermont Respite House, in Colchester, Vt. She was born in Walpole, Mass. in 1924 to Marion (Alden) and Walter V. Giles. She and her family lived with her grandparents in Massachusetts before moving to Winooski, Vt. where her father directed a CCC camp. Subsequently, they moved to Philadelphia where she graduated from Girls High School in 1942. During WWII, Betty worked at the Pentagon as a civilian employee of the government, training with a new company, IBM, on the first data-entry, computer-based employee management system for the military.

While in Philadelphia she had met a student at the Pennsylvania Maritime Academy, Louis B. Ely, and they were married in July of 1945 in Philadelphia. Lou immediately shipped off to Europe with the Merchant Marines. After his discharge in 1946, he and Betty returned to her family in Millis, Mass. where they had two daughters before Lou was called to active duty in the Navy in 1950. Betty and their daughters moved to Coronado, Calif. while he served in the Korea.

Shortly after Lou’s discharge from the Navy in 1953 they moved to Hanover, N.H. where Lou was an engineer for Dartmouth College and, subsequently, Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. During this time a son was added to the family. In 1960, Betty began work at Dartmouth College. She worked in the Alumni Development Office rising to the position of Operations Controller of the Data Processing Center and becoming one of the first female Officers of Dartmouth College. She retired in 1984. In addition, she was a Girl Scout Leader, a volunteer at the Pink Smock, an active national Judge of Flower Arranging, a member of the Hanover Garden Club and the Mayflower Society, and an active congregation member of the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College.

Upon retirement, Betty and Lou became part-owners of a Dutch-registered river barge, the Zeepaard, which they used as a floating B&B on the canals of the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Betty was the chief cook, bottle-washer and lock attendant while following Captain Lou’s commands. When not on board the Zeepaard, they took bicycle tours of Europe, and visited New Zealand, Australia and many other countries.

By 1996 they had sold their interest in the Zeepaard and were spending the winter months in Tarpon Springs, Fla. diving for sponges, golfing, bicycling and judging flower show.

After Lou died in 2012, Elizabeth moved to a senior living community in Shelburne, Vt. where she continued her daily walks, regardless of weather.

Elizabeth is survived by her daughters, Susan Ely of Sacramento, Calif., Pamela Ely (Richard Husband) of Etna, N.H. and her son, David B. Ely (Janet Ely) of Underhill Center, Vt.; grandchildren, Joshua, Jonasz, Elizabeth, Erika and Josh; her great-granddaughter, Sybil; as well as her younger sister, Lucille Lynch of Hamilton, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.

No services are planned at this time; burial will take place in Pine Knoll Cemetery, Hanover. In lieu of donations, Elizabeth would have suggested giving someone you love a bouquet of flowers or a plant.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rand Wilson Funeral Home, Hanover.