Elizabeth Piper, age 97

Elizabeth Piper, age 97, passed away quietly with her family at her side on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.



Elizabeth was born to her parents, Rev. Elton and Lola Mae (Cornford) Miller in Clarenda, IA on March 29, 1925. She was the second oldest of ten children. She was active in all church activities at her father’s church as well as school activities including music and class activities . She sang as a soloist, also in a quartet and sextet. She was honored as band queen, Miss DuPont and class president. After her graduation from Dumont high school, she attended York College. She married Floyd Piper on June 25, 1943. While he was a pilot in the Army Air Corp. she traveled with him to Texas, Florida, Missouri, Maine and California. After the war she moved back to Iowa while her husband finished college. They then moved to Seattle, Cedar Rapids, Wichita, New Jersey and back to Wichita in 1971.



She is preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Piper, her parents ,Rev and Mrs. Elton Miller, and siblings; Leland Miller, Richard Miller, Ruth Knop, Beverly Kile, Paul Miller and Elton Miller, Jr; . She is survived by brothers, Robert (Diane) Miller of Mesa, AZ, and William Miller of Nashville, TN; sister, Nancy Anderson of Belmond, Iowa. Elizabeth is the beloved mother of her son James ( Catherine) of San Marcos, CA, John of Panama City Beach, Florida, Joan (James) Baldwin of Kutztown, PA and Jane of Merritt Island, Florida, as well as his 7 beloved grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.



Elizabeth was loved, honored and respected by all her knew her. She as an active volunteer for the Red Cross for over 50 years. She was a dedicated member of West Heights United Methodist Church for 50 years. She also served as a member and past president of the Wichita Lioness, Wichita Music Theater Board, Project Beauty, and a charter member of Botanica. She always was an avid gardener who shared her passion with her children, grandchildren and neighbors. You can see her flowers everywhere. Elizabeth was a member of PEO Chapter FY for almost 40 years. Together with her husband they were very strong supporters of Wichita State university sports, always attending and cheering for the basketball and baseball games. She loved traveling with her husband while they visited every state and 50 countries, some trips were made with Friendship Force. She loved flying with Floyd in his plane and acted as “ copilot.” She loved spending time with her family and was very active in all of their lives making wonderful lifelong cherished memories.



Her dedication to help people was her life’s ambition. Elizabeth was an encouraging, positive, gracious and spiritual lady who will be dearly missed by all those who knew her. She was an amazing wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. It was a blessing to have known her.



Memorial donations may be sent in her memory to Shriner’s Hospital, PEO sponsored college, Cottey College ( 1000 W Austin, Nevada, MO 64772), or Botanice Gadens( 701 Amidon St. Wichita, Kansas 67203).



One of Her favorite life sayings from John Wesley was-



“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

For all the people you can,

As long as you can.”



Her Celebration of Life Service was held at West Heights Methodist Church on September 17 at 11 am. She will also have a Celebration of Life Service on October 1 in Hampton, Iowa at the Counsell Woodley Funeral Home at 2 pm. Following the service, Elizabeth and Floyd Piper will be laid to rest in the Dumont Cemetery.