Elisabeth “Libby” Gaskill Coombs died on July 4 at the age of 89. She was a summer resident of Duxbury from childhood until 2003.

Ms. Coombs was born in Boston to Walter Wagner Gaskill and Dorothy Wyman Gaskill. She went to The Brimmer School in Boston and graduated from Smith College in 1942. Later in life she received a Masters Degree in Library Science from Pratt Institute.

Ms. Coombs was one of the first enlisted WAVES in the Navy during World War II. Eventually she received a commission as an ensign. She trained naval aviators on the effects of high altitudes using the Low Pressure Chambers at the NAS in Quonset, R.I. and also worked at Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C..

She and her husband raised their four children in New Canaan, Connecticut where she maintained the records for Harrison’s pediatric practice. She also found the time for volunteer work for numerous organizations, including the Smith Club, the Girl Scouts, the United Fund, the public school’s parents’ councils, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the Audubon Society and the New Canaan Community Council.

Ms. Coombs worked for 19 years at the Nyselius Library of Fairfield University. She became the assistant librarian for technical services. After retiring she worked briefly for EBSCO as a field account service manager before moving to North Carolina. She was a member the Connecticut Library Association and the New England Library Association.

After moving to Fearrington Village in Chatham County, Ms. Coombs became active in her new community. She worked as a docent for the North Carolina Museum of Art, greatly enjoying giving tours of the collection. She was very involved in the community of Fearrington Village, working with the Homeowner’s Association and Fearrington Cares. Libby was also on the Altar Guild at the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill.

Ms. Coombs enjoyed reading, sailing, swimming, knitting, walking on the beach in Duxbury, tennis, cross-country skiing, music, the performing arts and baking brownies.

Preceding her in death were her husband Harrison Souder Coombs and her son Harrison (Terry) Souder Coombs, Jr. She leaves her daughters Lee Coombs Benjamin (husband William) and Christine Coombs; and son Stephen Gaskill Coombs (wife Irene Lofstrom). She also leaves three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Smith College Scholarship Fund or the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill.

A service will be held at the Chapel of the Cross at 304 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill on July 18 at 2 p.m.