Elizabeth K. (Beth) Skinner of North Truro, MA died the afternoon of Friday, June 4, 2010, after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage that morning. Her dear friends Bernadette Mainz, Donna Needham, and Janet St. Onge were by her side.
Beth was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Lora and Raymond Skinner. Her mother was a school teacher; her father invented and manufactured oil field equipment.
The family eventually made their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Beth enjoyed many cultural and educational opportunities. Beth's parents encouraged her interest in sports and music. Beth became a shining star in tennis, as well as an accomplished drummer for the Tulsa Little Women's Symphony, and in the eight grade served as a drummer and tympanist for the Tulsa Civic Symphony, a position she held until she went to college.
During her days at Texas College for Women in Denton, Texas, Beth majored in Health and Physical Education while continuing to pursue her love of music and sports. She performed in a dance band which toured the state and played semi-pro women's softball.
After graduation, Beth taught two years in Hobbs, New Mexico, before attending Columbia University in New York where she earned master's degrees in Health and Physical Education and Psychology. She then taught in Attica, New York, and at the University of Montevallo in Alabama.
World War II interrupted her teaching career, and Beth volunteered with the American Red Cross, serving in the South Pacific for two years on the islands of New Caledonia and Saipan as a staff assistant, then as director of Red Cross service clubs.
After W.W.II and a stint in her father's oil equipment company, Beth took a teaching position in Scarsdale, New York, and returned to Columbia University for a doctorate degree in Health and Physical Education. A severe bout of rheumatic fever forced her to change her career choice, and she returned to Columbia to pursue a doctorate in psychology. Beth had a long and satisfying career as both a school and a clinical psychologist in Paterson and Westwood, New Jersey. She shared a private practice with her friend of many years, Frances H. Harris. When she retired in 1983, she made North Truro her permanent residence with Frances who died in 1995.
Both enjoyed interacting with people who displayed a good sense of humor and who could engage in good natured bantering. She was a quick witted, feisty woman who made friends easily with her warm smile and caring nature. Many organizations, charities, animal rights groups, the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House in Provincetown, and more than one friend have been the recipient of her generosity.
Among Beth's many interests were reading,crossword puzzles, and cribbage. She was a fierce but fair competitor whose passion for tennis and golf resulted in many awards. She especially enjoyed playing golf with her friends at Highland Links in North Truro where she remained active until two years ago. Her real love, however, was flying, and she held licenses for both land and sea planes. A keen observer of the political scene, Beth enjoyed engaging others in spirited conversations about national and international events.
Beth is survived by Bernadette Mainz, with whom she shared her home and her life, and many friends throughout the United States. A memorial service is planned for Monday, July 26, 2010 at 10:00am in the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House in Provincetown, MA. Memorial Contributions may be made to the UUMH Restoration Committee, P.O. Box 817, Provincetown, MA 02657; the Truro Fire and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 2013, Truro, MA 02666; or to the charity of one's choice.