Moorestown Librarian Who Worked With Girl Scouts In Japan Passes

Helen Elizabeth Ives, of Moorestown, NJ died September 14, 2018. She was formerly of Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland. Helen was born to William and Marguerite Heitmann July 31, 1940, in Louisville, KY.

Helen was a graduate of Washington and Lee High School in Arlington, VA and a 1963 graduate of Swarthmore College. She earned a Master’s degree in Library Sciences from Rutgers University and served as a librarian at the Federal Reserve Bank in NY.

After her marriage to Robert “Bob” Ives in 1967, she was a librarian at University of Pittsburgh while Bob attended dental school. Her career as a devoted navy wife included living throughout the US and in Japan. While Bob was stationed at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan from 1984-88 she served as the regional head of the base’s Girl Scouts and taught English at the Japanese National Defense Academy.

After returning to Bethesda, she was a tenured librarian at the American University in Washington, DC, until her retirement in 2003. While at AU she spent four months in Japan on a library exchange program and served on the board of the American University of Rome.

Helen was active at St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase serving on the Vestry and on the Opportunity Shop committee. Helen always had a smile for everyone, even to her last day. She will be missed for her sense of adventure and fun.

She is predeceased by her husband, Bob. She is survived by her sister Melinda Hinners of Chapel Hill, NC, son William (Kumiko) of Osaka Japan, daughter Elizabeth (Christopher McFadden) of Haddonfield, NJ and four adored grandchildren Matthew Ives, and Henry, Estelle, and Tucker McFadden.

Memorial service Friday 1: 30 p.m. at Grace Church, 19 Kings Hwy E, Haddonfield, NJ 08033. Private interment Elmwood Cemetery, New Brunswick, NJ. Condolences may be left at www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.