Elizabeth Webner Markline, a longtime resident of Greenwich and wife of the late Howard Stanley Markline, died on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 at Norwalk Hospital surrounded by her family, after a long battle with dementia. She was 91 Years old.
Born on April 3, 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri, Elizabeth quickly found a home with Gertrude and John Webner and her three brothers. She spent her formative years in Louisa County, Va. Growing up during the Great Depression and through World War II, Elizabeth learned to identify enemy aircraft and knit sweaters for GIs. When looking back on wartime, she spoke proudly of how friends, neighbors, and strangers worked together and made heroic sacrifices. Elizabeth valued community wherever she found it, and was a treasured friend to many.
Elizabeth had a deep passion for the arts and channeled her creativity through its many forms. She was a talented tailor seamstress and designer. Her children remember many days watching their mother spread colorful fabric onto the dining room table to bring her next new design to life.
After attending college at American University in Washington D.C., Elizabeth began her professional career at Stewart’s department store in Baltimore, Maryland. Elizabeth’s artistic vision won her a position as a window designer. She continued advancing her creative skills over the years and eventually founded a small interior design firm which she named “Chez Liz”. In her later years, Elizabeth enjoyed watercolor painting and spoke often of how much she loved color, and the vibrancy it brought to her life. Elizabeth shared her love of visual arts with her children, Chris and Courtney, with visits to MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as special occasion meals at her favorite New York City restaurant, “La Grenouille”.
Elizabeth and Howard Markline were married on Nov. 8, 1958, and moved to Hartford, Connecticut shortly thereafter. They were married for 36 years until her husband succumbed to cancer in 1994.
With their first child, Christopher, in tow, Elizabeth and Howard moved from Hartford to Greenwich in 1960. Their second child, Courtney, was born at Greenwich Hospital in 1965. Elizabeth and Howard embraced their new hometown by joining Christ Church in Greenwich. Elizabeth also joined the Junior League of Greenwich. Howard occasionally played the organ at Christ Church, and the Markline family formed close relationships with many of the parishioners. At their church, Elizabeth took on many volunteer positions including The Episcopal Church Women (ECW), The Couple’s Club, and the Alter Guild. Of all of Elizabeth’s volunteer efforts, the Alter Guild is where she shone brightest – her talent at floral arranging was unmatched and she was often asked to create arrangements for local weddings.
Elizabeth first discovered her love for travel and adventure when her parents organized an extensive National Park tour in her early twenties with her best friend, Sally Morrow. She cherished the beauty of nature and enjoyed spending time in the fresh air. In later years, she would go on to visit The Holy Land, Greece, and her favorite destination of all – France.
Elizabeth had a generous spirit and shared her impressive athleticism throughout her life with close friends and family, which often included long walks and talks at Tod’s Point in Greenwich. She could frequently be seen there making her daily double lap around the park.
Elizabeth took up swimming later in life and mastered the freestyle stroke. She would swim one mile each day at the YWCA. She also took up tennis, which showcased her grit and determination and allowed her to compete with friends at courts all over town. Later in life, she worked at the Bailiwick Club where she checked in members and their guests. She enjoyed watching the membership grow through the years and the company of families who made her job a pleasure.
In her later years, as Elizabeth persevered through dementia, she never lost her rich memories of music. When prompted, she could sing and harmonize an incredible number of songs from ” The Great American Songbook”. She and Howard loved Harry Belafonte and always kept his cassettes on hand for long car rides. Her family will dearly miss her beautiful voice.
Brookdale Assisted Living and Memory Care in Wilton provided a wonderful and caring home for her during her twilight years. Her family will always be appreciative of the staff’s commendable work and are grateful for the loving community she found there.
In addition to her children Christopher Markline (Mary Grandville) from Stamford, and Courtney Nields (Benjamin Nields IV) from Norwalk, Elizabeth is survived by her five grandchildren – Anne Cooper Nields, Benjamin Nields V, Christopher Moore Nields, William Francis Markline, and James Rogan Markline. They all loved their GoGo!
A memorial service was held on March 12 in the Chapel of Christ Church Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Elizabeth’s name to The Christ Church Alter Guild.
