Elsie Margaret Erickson

March 25, 1928 - December 28, 2020

SAN MARCOS — Elsie Margaret Erickson, a San Diego native and longtime county resident, died peacefully in her sleep in the wee hours of Dec. 28. She was 92.

Ms. Erickson was the daughter of Edward Erickson, a troubleshooter for San Diego Gas & Electric, and Faye Erickson. She graduated from San Diego High in the Class of 1945.

During her working life outside the home, Ms. Erickson held the position of executive secretary at the Methodist Social Service Organization in San Diego. Her duties included the placement of homeless individuals and families in available shelters, which, in her words, “Really opened my eyes to what a privileged life I had led.”

In recent years, Ms. Erickson had been slowed by arthritis and the effects of encroaching dementia, but neither kept her from enjoying the memories of a life that included a wicked left-handed jump shot with her high school basketball team, an evening spent in the company of her screen idol, Charlton Heston, and her many excursions to far flung corners of the United States.

Ms. Erickson was preceded in death by her youngest son, Edward Adolph Hovdey. She is survived by her grandson Edward William Hovdey, her oldest son Jay Hovdey, his wife, the retired Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone, and their daughter, Lorelei, 15.

Ms. Erickson’s remains will be buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorials are requested to be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association of San Diego.