Obituary of Elnora Haney Jespersen

Ellie was born in Rush, Kentucky to John and Susan Floribel Haney, the fifth of seven children. She was a coal miner's daughter and grew up on a small farm in mountainous Eastern Kentucky. In spite of not having electricity until she was in high school, she was an outstanding student; graduating as salutatorian of her class in May 1948, one month after turning 16 and moving to northern Virginia in June to work for what is now the National Security Agency. On February 21, 1953, she married Charles F. Jespersen, Jr. She had a full and active life raising children and grandchildren, working, volunteering and serving others. She was active in local politics, civil rights, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, church and charity activities; loved music and the arts and was an avid reader. She was a teaching assistant in Special Education for the Montgomery County Public Schools from 1969 to 1997. She then had another career with the Montgomery County Board of Elections, retiring in October 2013. She is survived by her husband, their five children: Jan Ellen Ballard (Larry), Fort Madison, IA; Charles III (Trudy), Steamboat Springs, CO; John Rolf (Phyllis), Frederick, MD; Eric Lee (Kym), Rockledge, FL; and William Andrew, Frederick, MD; nine grandchildren: Alexis, Rockville, MD; Jennifer, Bristow, VA; Christian (Jennifer), Orlando, FL; Helen, Bristow, VA; Shawna (Mark), Eagles Nest, NM; Kyle (Mia), Seattle, WA; Shane, Steamboat Springs, CO; Manaia, Baltimore, MD; and Jillian, San Francisco, CA; and eight great grandchildren: Luke, Cassidy, Jacob, Emerald, Sapphire, Eric, Madison and Jared; and her younger siblings: Bonnie Faye Haney and Alan Wetzel Haney in Grayson, KY; and a host of cousins and other relatives. A memorial service will be held at 1:00p.m. April 9, 2016 at the Rockville United Church, 355 Lnthicum Street, Rockville, MD 20851. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Rockville United Church.