Elizabeth S. Hitchner

Elizabeth Surbeck Hitchner 94 years young

Elizabeth S. Hitchner passed away Sun. Feb. 15, 2015, at White Horse Village, Newtown Square, PA, after several months battling lymphoma and other medical complications. Her family roots were in Bath, Maine, but Betty was born Oct. 2, 1920, in Brooklyn, NY, to Irma and Edward Surbeck. She attended grade school in Brooklyn and Ridgewood, NJ, and graduated from Ridgewood H.S. in 1938. She went on to DePauw Univ. in Greencastle, IN, where she majored in English, joined Tri Delta Delta sorority, met the love of her life, Lewis C. Hitchner, and graduated with a B.A. degree in June 1942. After growing up as “Betty” she was christened “Becky” at DePauw by her future husband. In June 1943 she and Lew married.

In the first years of marriage Becky and Lew lived in North Jersey, Long Island, and Philadelphia while Lew finished service with the U.S. Navy. During that time Becky worked as a secretary in NYC and then taught English and French at Collingdale H.S. In 1948 the family moved to the Chicago suburbs where she began devoting her life to being a full-time wife, mother, and homemaker. In 1953 the family returned East to live in Media and Wallingford, PA, where they resided for more than 35 years. During those years Becky was active in organizations including PTA and League of Women Voters. But, her main service was with the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church where she was a member for almost 58 years. She served as a Deacon, an Elder, and member and chairman of the Parish Life Committee. For more than 30 years she and the family spent many summer days and winter weekends at their home on the bay in Avalon, NJ. In 1993 she and Lew moved to White Horse Village (WHV) where she resided until her death.

Becky was preceded in death by husband Lew in 2001. She is survived by son Lew (a.k.a.Lee) of Sandy, UT, son Ken (Lucinda) of Moss Beach, CA, daughter Sue Borland (Dave) of Northfield, MA, exchange student daughter Maria Albarellos of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 5 grandchildren, Aleta, Liza, and Kelly Hitchner, Ted and Jack Borland, sister Ruth Venho Hanes (Howard), nephew Jeffrey Venho, niece Patricia Venho Conklin, nephew Lewis Hemphil, 4 great-nieces, and 2 great-nephews. Love and being in the company of family and friends was Becky’s number one focus and joy in life.

The family is especially grateful to the loving care from all the wonderful nurses and staff in the WHV Skilled Nursing Facility, her many friends at WHV, and to her doctors at Crozer Hospital.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 21 at 1:00 PM at the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, 727 Harvard Ave., Swarthmore, PA (reception following). Her ashes will be interred at the Memorial Garden of the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church and at cemeteries in Bridgeton, NJ, and Bath, ME. Memorial donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders, Swarthmore Presbyterian Church (in memory of Elizabeth S. Hitchner), White Horse Village Employee Appreciation Fund, or Crozer Chester Medical Center (in memory of Lewis C. Hitchner).

Service Information

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2015

Time: 01:00 pm

Swarthmore Presbyterian Church

727 Harvard Ave.

Swarthmore, PA