ELIZABETH DABNEY CHARLES
1941-2021
Elizabeth Vinson Dabney Charles died unexpectedly but peacefully at home in Houston on Tuesday, the 28th of December 2021, from a heart attack. She was 80 years of age.
Betty was born on the 6th of March 1941, in Houston, to Charles William Dabney,
Jr. and Julia Vinson Dabney. She grew up in Houston and was educated at River Oaks Elementary, Lanier Middle School, and Lamar High School, attended RandolphMacon Women’s College, Lynchburg, Virginia, and graduated from The University of Texas with a BA in history where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha.
Upon graduation she taught history in H.I.S.D. After retiring from teaching, she worked as the executive director of the Friends of Fondren Library, Rice University.
She met her husband of 35 years, Ernest Meadow Charles, through a mutual friend and they were married on the 12th of October 1985. As Ernest was British, they made many trips to England to visit his family and friends.
Yearly they stayed several months in England and Wales where they maintained a residence. They enjoyed gardening and making trips around the countryside. She also traveled to many places including Israel, Russia, Egypt, East and West Europe though her favorite was the United Kingdom, especially Scotland.
Having no children of her own, Betty doted on her nieces and nephews. She enjoyed needlepointing ornaments for each one every year.
Betty was an active docent at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and was a member of the Ima Hogg Ceramic Circle, The Silver Study Society, National Society of Colonial Dames of America in Texas, the John McKnitt Alexander Chapter of the DAR, The Junior League of Houston, and St. Claire’s Needlepoint Guild at St. Martin’s. She especially enjoyed reading and going to lunch with the Lunch Bunch.
Betty was a gracious lady with a strong Christian faith which penetrated everything she did. Betty and Ernest attended St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and she became an Episcopalian last year after a long relationship with the Presbyterian Church since birth.
Betty was predeceased by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her sister, Anne Dabney Moriniere and her husband Jack; her brother Charles William Dabney III and his wife Judy all of Houston; her nephew, David C. Moriniere and his wife Kimball of Houston; her niece, Dabney Moxham and her husband Eric of Park City, Utah; and her nephews, William Dabney and his wife Julie, and Andrew Dabney all of Houston. She is also survived by six grandnieces and nephews, Cate and Frances Moriniere, Blake and Elise Moxham, and Charles and Emily Dabney; along with numerous cousins and friends.
A memorial service is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 11th of January, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston. Those unable to attend may watch the live-streaming accessible at https://stmartinsepiscopal. org/funerals/.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in Bagby Parish Hall.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Betty’s honor be directed to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX, 77056 (stmartinsepiscopal.org); or to The Virginia Vinson Lawhon Education Fund of the Bayou Bend Garden Endowment, or Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, PO Box 6826, Houston, TX, 77265-6826.