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In memory of

Elizabeth Trueblood Derr

Oxford, PA, USA

April 30, 1941 - March 18, 2021

Apr 30, 1941 - Mar 18, 2021

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Elizabeth (Honey) Trueblood Derr, 79, passed away on March 18th, 2021 in Oxford, PA. Honey was born on April 30th, 1941 in Palo Alto, California, the daughter of D. Elton and Pauline Goodenow Trueblood.

At age four her family moved to Richmond, Indiana where she grew up as a faculty child on the Earlham College campus. Her Mother and older brother Arnold designed their family cottage at Lake Paupac in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Honey spent almost every summer there as a young girl where she enjoyed adventures with family and friends while her father wrote books. Lake Paupac continued to be a place to celebrate family throughout her life. Honey graduated from Westtown School in 1959 and attended Earlham College. She met her husband Dan at Earlham College and they married in 1963.

After living in several places, Honey found a "diamond in the rough" farm in Conowingo, Maryland which they named Spring Valley Farm and molded into a beautiful treasure over the next 47 years. Honey had a love of gardening and plants. Over the many years living at Spring Valley Farm she made the most of her gifts of creative vision, determination and ingenuity, completing the many projects that shaped the memorable landscape of the family farm. She passed these gifts to her children and grandchildren by including them in all parts of the process. Honey was well known for her ability to encourage those with doubts and she always looked for ways to help others believe in their gifts.

She ran a small business for several years called, The Spring Valley Farm Garden Shop where she sold vegetables and flowering plants to the public. Together Honey and Dan created a Pick Your Own fruit business selling blueberries and other fruit. As her three children got older she began substitute teaching to supplement the family income. At 45 she began a career as a Librarian which was appropriate given her love of reading. She worked at the Perryville Library and at the Elkton Library where she was Head of Circulation. But above all other ventures, Honey was most passionate about raising her three children and used the farm as a unique backdrop for child rearing. Both fun and firm, she taught them the virtues of freedom and accountability.

After retirement from the library, Honey assisted her husband in the direct marketing of the blueberry growing business. From greeting and assisting customers to setting price points to creating and maintaining the website, she thrived in all sales and marketing aspects of the business.

Honey was a lifelong member of The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and attended Deer Creek Meeting in Darlington, MD with her family for many years.

Honey and Dan moved to Ware Presbyterian Village in 2017. Honey quickly made many friends and greatly enjoyed the community atmosphere. While at Ware, Honey volunteered with Canine Partners for Life (CPL) where she trained a yellow Labrador service dog named, Nittany.

She is survived by her husband, B. Daniel Derr and their three children; Sam Derr ( wife Amanda, children Sarah, Isaac, Anna) of Durham, NC, Brooke Derr (husband Dan Feingold) of Darlington, MD, and Nathan Derr (children Eric, Amelia, Jake) of Towson, MD. Honey is also survived by one brother, Samuel J. Trueblood (wife Mary Ellen) of Exton, PA. Additional siblings include two deceased brothers, Martin Trueblood (wife Margaret) and Arnold Trueblood (wife Caroline).

A memorial service will be held at Deer Creek Friends Meeting in Darlington, MD to celebrate her life. The date is to be determined.

Contributions may be made in Elizabeth Derr's memory to Canine Partners for Life (CPL) located at 334 Faggs Manor Rd. in Cochranville, PA 19330.

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