Dorothy Marie Elkind

A private family ceremony will be held for Dorothy Elkind who passed away peacefully in Santa Cruz this past Sunday. Dorothy would have celebrated her 94th birthday next month. She was born to Kentucky natives, Silas Skidmore and Ruth Bowen Skidmore on the family farm in Harlan County, Kentucky. She was an avid reader, loved nature, animals, and above all else, her family. One of 9 children, Dorothy graduated from Kentucky School of the Deaf. She married Bernard Keith Harding, and gave birth to their daughter, Beth Ann. Dorothy attended many different denominations of churches, and was a member throughout the years of various organizations, and clubs for the deaf. An accomplished traveler, she visited Israel, Mexico and Hawaii. After retirement from Bank of Amercia as a keypunch operater Dorothy moved permanently to Santa Cruz in 1995, to be near her daughter and her husband F. John LaBarba who have lived here in Santa Cruz for the past 43 years. Dorothy divorced and married Aaron Elkind and had two sons: Bruce and Ethan Elkind. She was preceded in death by her husband Aaron Elkind, and son Ethan Elkind, is survived by Bruce Elkind, daughter in law Debbie, and children: Lael, Aja, and Alec, and their children. She also leaves her sister; Virginia Campbell, and brothers, Bruce, and Don Skidmore, and their families all residing in Tennessee, Iowa, and California. Dorothy is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Beth Ann, and John LaBarba, and their children Kimberly, and George Hand, Mercy, and Noah Vasseaur, Angelina and Matt Bachtel. She also leaves her four great grandchildren: Morgan Malley, Keith Malley, and Marley, Kai, and Leila Bachtel, and great, great granddaughter who was born on Dorothy's birthday, and Beth Ann, and John's wedding day River Malley. The family would like to thank the entire staff of Kindred Care in Santa Cruz for their long-term loving care of Dorothy. Any kind acts of charity can be made in her memory to Lyme Tap Program PO BOX 2238 McKinleyville, CA. 95519. You may share your reflections with her family by visiting the Benito and Azzaro homepage at www.pacificgardenschapel.com.