Marian Elaine Skelton, 87, passed away on March 16th, 2015 at home in Colorado Springs. She had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died a week later. Her husband of 68 years, Lt. Col. Ben Skelton USAF (retired), passed away on January 2nd. Her family is grieving deeply the loss of both parents in such a short time.
Marian Elaine Freeauf was born on November 14th, 1927, in Pittsburgh, PA, to Marion V. Yeager Freeauf and Edward Joseph Freeauf, a pharmacist. Her grandparents came from Czechoslovakia and settled on Troy Hill in Pittsburgh where Elaine was surrounded by her relatives and grew up speaking Czech. She was very close to her grandmother who never did learn English. Her father went to University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and her mother went to a women’s college in Chicago for missionary work. Elaine attended Shaler High School in Glenshaw, PA, but graduated from Conneaut Lake High School. Her family had moved to Conneaut Lake when her father opened Freeauf’s Pharmacy. Elaine graduated early and attended State Teachers College of Edinboro, PA. There she met her future husband, Ben Clark Skelton of Edinboro, an Army Air Corps pilot recently returned from WWII. They married in November 1946. For a while she was the only teacher at Quarry School, a one room school house.
Three children followed; Terence Edward, Christopher Rand and Lisa Elaine. In 1953 Ben returned to active duty in the U.S. Air Force as an officer During the following years they moved 27 times as Ben’s military career took them all over the country and to Germany and Hawaii. They retired in Hawaii. In order to care for Elaine’s mother, they returned to Conneaut Lake in 1976. At the age of 50, Elaine again attended Edinboro University to achieve a degree in Psychology. During that time she was also an active elder at Watson Run Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday school, playing the piano, and directing the choir. After 10 years they moved to Sun City West, AZ, to enjoy the warm weather and Ben could golf every day. They had a very active social life with Ben in many military organizations, TROA, MOAA and ROA. Elaine was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary serving as President. She was a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star. Six years ago they moved to Colorado Springs to be near their family.
Elaine was always the homemaker no matter where the family home was. As Ben was traveling most of the time, she was the true head of the family when he was gone. Her focus was always her family, first and foremost. She loved being a mother and eventually a grandmother. Her sharp wit and sense of humor made her many acquaintances, but her interest in and caring for others gave her many loyal friends. Elaine loved music all her life and a piano was one of the first serious purchases of the young married couple and she encouraged musical education for all her children. Elaine was an intelligent woman, with an active curiosity and love of learning. An avid reader, she could often be seen on her patio keeping track of the comings and goings and reading her newspaper cover to cover. For the last 15 years she took care of Ben as his health declined. The hardest time came when Ben had to move to Memory Care and they were separated. Mom would then walk the distance 2 buildings away to be with him almost every day. Elaine was an amazing woman with a heart of gold. She will be sorely missed by those who knew her.
She is survived by Terence Skelton, wife Dorothy, her three children Ronald, Lisa, Christopher Carr and two great grandchildren, Shannon and Matthew Carr; son Christopher Skelton and wife Lisa Marie and daughter Breanna; daughter Lisa Elaine, husband Jim Brandt and son Tyler. We want to thank her many friends, staff of Brookdale Skyline Assisted Living and Pikes Peak Hospice for their loving care.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Brookdale Skyline, 2365 Patriot Heights in the Skyline Room, Building 3.