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Ellen Mercer Diming

Ellen Mercer Diming passed away peacefully in her sleep at Hospice of Virginia, Richmond, Va. within eight days of her 97th birthday on July 21, 2018.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin H. Diming of Charlottesville, Va., and sister, Marie Mercer of Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Ellen Diming was born July 29, 1921 in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland to Esau and Margaret Mercer. She grew up during the Great Depression in Massachusetts where she attended public schools. She was a 1943 graduate of Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass. In 1947, she used the GI Bill to earn an M.A. in Teaching from Radcliffe College and was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Pi Gamma Mu Honor Societies.

During World War II, Ellen served in the US Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) from 1944-1946. As a Specialist (S) 2nd Class, she was responsible for training new WAVES recruits at their Hunter College NYC boot camp.

After WWII, she taught History and English for 18 years in Junior and Senior High Schools in Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Ellen was a charter member and President of the local unit of the Virginia Blue Ridge WAVES and Navy Nurses for several years. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the AAUW Book Club, the Senior Center of Charlottesville, and a volunteer for the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA).

As a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, Ellen served on Vestries in Bedford and Ayer, Mass., taught Sunday School and was an active member of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) organization. In their retirement years, Ellen and her husband Alvin greatly enjoyed attending 25 Elderhostels.

Ellen is survived by her children: Stephen (wife Patricia) of Elon College, N.C.; Philip (wife Charlotte) of Oakley, Calif.; Paul (wife Pamela) of Midlothian, Va.; and Clare King of Montgomery Village, Md. Three grandchildren: Sandra Riley of Virginia Beach, Va., Christopher Diming of Durham, England, and Cynthia King of Montgomery Village; two great-grandchildren: Lilly and Willow; and one sister, Grace Flewelling of Port Charlotte, Fla. survive her.

The family would like to thank the Richmond staffs of All Saints Episcopal Church, Westminster Canterbury, and Hospice of Virginia for their constant support over the last several weeks.

A Funeral Service was held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Church of Our Saviour Episcopal Church with Reverend David Stoddart officiating. Burial was at 2 p.m. at Culpeper National Cemetery, Culpeper, VA. Hill and Wood Funeral Home of Charlottesville, Va. will coordinate funeral and burial services.

Instead of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Hallock Endowment Fund (www.coosonline.org/hallock-endowment-fund) Church of Our Saviour, 1165 Rio Rd., East, Charlottesville, VA, 22901 or to a charity of your choice.

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