Elizabeth Anne Balch Berthold

Elizabeth Anne Balch Berthold, 60, formerly of Indianapolis, passed away peacefully on February 19 at her home in Peletier, North Carolina. (Friends and family will gather at a life celebration on Saturday, June 13, 2020, 2 pm, at Unity of Indianapolis, 907 N Delaware. Please save the date.)

Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, January 30, 1960, Elizabeth grew up in Indianapolis, attending IPS schools. A 1978 graduate of Ladywood St. Agnes and Cathedral High School, she went on to attend IUPUI, studying psychology, business, and thanatology.

Elizabeth is survived by 2 sons, Matthew Berthold of Peletier, NC, James Berthold (Kelly) of Sea Level, NC, their father Victor Berthold of Broad Creek, NC, and a foster son, Aaron Storey; grandchildren Bradley Berthold, Raylynn Renee Howard, Raiden Berthold, Ariel Berthold, and Liam Berthold; sisters Ceil (Roger) Upchurch, Catherine Hill (Stephen), David Murphy (Leon Rozenblat), and Rodney Carlisle Balch, IV; nephews Stephen Hill, Jr., Joshua Hill, Jacob Hill, and Lucas Upchurch; nieces Aria Hill and Fiona Murphy Rozenblat; aunts Jeanne Simons and Monika Simons; cousins Sally Simons and Mark Simons.

Preceding Elizabeth in death were her mother, Patricia Herring Murphy, father Rodney Carlisle Balch, III, grandmother Ferol Agatha Lancaster-Herring, uncle Frank D. Simons, and her first born son Thomas Eric Angleberger.

Elizabeth's work history included property management of 30 hotels in Southern California, owning a home daycare business, preschool administration and preschool teaching at Little Sprouts Learning Center, serving as research assistant in sociology at IUPUI, directing human resources and recruitment at Transcom USA, and working as administrative assistant in a law office.

It was important to Liz, as she was known to family and friends, to give back. She served 8 years on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the National SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Foundation, touching many lives while counseling parents who had lost a child to crib death. Liz volunteered at Wishard Hospital hospice, Ronald McDonald House, became a licensed foster parent and a "Partner in Hope", donating monthly to St. Jude Hospital.

An avid reader of Stephen King novels, Liz loved history, trivia, and movies. She was delicate and feminine adoring lace, lily of the valley, wearing heels and things that were sparkly, floral or pink. She will be remembered for her quick wit, romanticism, unwavering love for family, and for her delight in playing with her grandchildren and the children she served in her career.

A writer, poet, and muse, Liz left us these words: "Friends, I always dreamed of being a concert cellist, finding a cure for SIDS, and writing the great American novel. I did none of these things, but my life was a tremendous, magical and sometimes complicated gift. This is because I received the greatest gift, the most precious dream of all--I loved and was loved in return. Please remember me. Then, I am never really gone."