Elizabeth Daniel Dickinson

Elizabeth "Libby" Ann Daniel Dickinson of Sanibel, FL and Bloomfield Hills, MI passed away suddenly, but peacefully on November 21st, 2023 in Alexandria, VA. 

Libby was born May 24, 1939, in Gastonia, NC, the only child of Mary Alice (Culp) and Charles Daniel. She attended Duke University where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1961.  It was at Duke where she met her college sweetheart, Gary W. Dickinson ‘60.  They were married in the Duke Chapel on Feb 6, 1961 and moved to Michigan to begin Gary’s career with General Motors. Their incredible life together moved them to many places including Milford, Rochester Hills, Boyne City, and Bloomfield Hills, MI, Granada Hills, CA, McLean, VA, Kokomo, IN and Sanibel, FL.  Libby was a dedicated civic volunteer, working for such organizations as Meadowbrook Hall, Hospice of Michigan, First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, Birmingham Community House, Duke University Board of Visitors, Sanibel Big Arts and Chapel by the Sea.  Libby and Gary had two children, Debbi Kelly (John) and Jeff (deceased 2010) and were later blessed with two grandchildren, Jack (19) and Julia Kelly (16).  Gary passed away in 2000.

Libby met Dale S. Hanson through mutual friends on Sanibel Island. The couple were married in Minnesota in 2006. Dale passed away in 2013. 

Libby was an avid reader, loved to travel, peruse/collect antiques and spend time with her grandchildren.  She was elegant, meticulous and impressively intelligent.  Because of her southern upbringing and incredible memory for details, she sought out conversations with friends and strangers alike on just about any subject.  And although she was technologically challenged, she had the most beautiful penmanship – preferring to write in cursive versus print. Libby lived her life filled with laughter, adventure, community, friendship, and love.  Her infectious smile and bright, aquamarine eyes will be forever missed. 

The first of several services will be held Fri, Dec 22, 2023, 10am at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA.  Celebration of Life services will also be held in Sanibel Island, FL and Birmingham, MI at a later date.

A second service will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024, 10am at Captivia Chapel by the Sea in Captivia, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel Island. 

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