Elaine England

ELAINE ENGLAND

Cedar Rapids

5/11/1926 – 12/25/2015

Elaine England's story on Earth has ended and a new journey has begun. Elaine passed away on Christmas morning, a day of hope and joy, at the age of 89 years. Elaine Louise Zarub England was born an only child on May 11, 1926, to Lincoln Albert Zarub and Clara Charlotte Louise Helming Zarub in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Elaine was reared on Daniels Street, where her grandparents and parents lived. She attended Garfield Elementary, as did her father and her daughter. She lived through the Great Depression and World War II eras, and was greatly influenced by both. She was a member of First Christian Church for over 80 years and participated in the youth group and choir. In high school she participated in basketball, volleyball and drama, and played the piano. She spent some summers at camp and loved horseback riding and leatherwork. She graduated from Franklin High School in 1944. Elaine wanted to go to college, join the war effort, or move to California and sing, but she didn't have those opportunities. She went to work in the aerospace industry instead to support the war effort. Elaine worked 27 years for Collins Radio, 10 years at the main plant, and then 17 years at the Cedar Rapids airport as a secretary, flight scheduler and radio operator. She later married Lawrence "Cap" England on May 16, 1953.

Elaine had a fun-loving, outgoing personality. After marriage, Elaine and Larry could be found socializing with family and friends, ballroom dancing, dining out or square dancing. They soon built their home on the vacant lot between her grandparents' home and her parents' home. She lived there for over 56 years until moving to Minnesota to be near her daughter. She spent several winters in Mesa, Ariz., with family during her 60s.

Elaine was a caring, loving mother and it was her calling. She reared two successful, independent children. She served as "picture lady" for the Cedar Rapids public schools, bringing artwork into the classroom, served as president of the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) and sang in the church adult choir. She was an exceptional cook and liked to travel. She liked looking at the moon, hot air balloons, big band music, the water and boating, dressing up, jewelry, airplanes and was very patriotic. Her favorite color was purple, and she always wore her lipstick and powder.

When age took its toll on her body but not on her mind, she enjoyed reading the newspaper, keeping up with current events, the old shows on ME-TV, dancing shows, old movies and musicals, car rides to look at flowers and wildlife and listening to all types of music. At live musical events, she could be seen dancing to the music with her hands and she most always requested the song "Sentimental Journey" from the entertainers. Her last years at Sterling Pointe Senior Living were filled with hope, laughter, new clothes, flowers and music. Her apartment was filled with family heirlooms and favorite things while family visited almost daily. She wanted people to know she was once young and thin and vibrant as her picture shows.

She is survived by her son, Stephen L. England (Peggy) of St. Louis, Mo.; daughter, Ellen C. England of Princeton, Minn.; grandsons, Stephen C. England of St. Louis and Peter J. England of Fort Worth, Texas; and favorite cousin, Mary Lou Kent of Gold Canyon, Ariz. She loved the staff at Sterling Pointe and they served as her extended family.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. at the Sterling Pointe Senior Living Chapel. A graveside service and interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, on May 16, 2016, which would have been her 63rd wedding anniversary.