Elizabeth O. Guran

Elizabeth Owen Guran, 95, passed away on July 9th in Akron.

Libby, Liz, Fan and Betty Ann were all names she would answer to. She could tell what part of her life you knew her from based on her alias. Liz was Garfield High, Libby was the Guran family, Fan and Betty Ann were Owen family names. If she was called by her given name she knew she was in trouble with her parents.

As a young girl she worked in her dad’s grocery store in Kenmore designing the window displays for the week. She didn’t travel much since her Dad was always working, but after getting married she made up for it by traveling to 35 countries on 3 continents and all but 3 states.

She was a voracious reader growing up. She always had a book in her hand. This love of reading extended into her 80’s and she passed this down to her children and grandkids.

She grew up in Akron and graduated from Garfield High School in 1941. She was a member of ZTA sorority and graduated from the University of Akron in 1944, majoring in voice, and later earned her masters at Columbia University in music teaching.

Music was her love as she sang as a soloist in many Akron churches. Moving to Chickasha, OK, she taught music at Oklahoma College for Women and later returned to teach in Coventry. She was a great pianist. She would often play songs and sing while we were waiting for a ride to school in the morning

Attending musicals and theater were also her passion. She attended many Tuesday Musical concerts and would take her children along to introduce them to music.

She applied to be a TWA stewardess but never took the job because her dad was too ill. To compensate for this she took flying lessons. During World War II she worked for Goodyear Aerospace as a Rosie the Riveter helping to rivet aircraft.

She met John D. Guran at a YMCA dance. She loved to dance as evidenced by her full dance cards. He was a great dancer so she fell in love and on July 18, 1953, they were married and lived their entire lives in Akron. They went on to have three children- Linda, Debbie and David.

Travel, golf, bridge and bowling were her hobbies and many friendships were developed through them. She also loved being on the Portage Lakes on a pontoon boat and she liked to swim.  In later years her love was playing cards, especially Spite and Malice. She could play that game for hours and never tire of it.

She served as a president of the Akron Woman’s City Club and was on Playmaker’s board. She also was an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Helen Owen; and sister, Janet Metzger.  She joins her husband, John D Guran. She is survived by her children, Linda Linderman (John) of Houston, TX, Debbie Elsner (Greg) of Cincinnati and David Guran of Akron; and grandchildren, Shannon, Brian, Kristen, Michael, Helena and Charlotte.

Thank you to all her wonderful caregivers over the years especially Cindy Barnes, Pam, Erika, Cindy E., Shavonne, Tia, Mierra and Barb. Without your love and help she would not have been able to live her dream of staying in her house.

Thank you also to Sara and Edna who every week transformed her by doing her hair and making her feel special. Wednesdays were her favorite day of the week and she looked forward to her hair day.

Thank you to all the caring nurses, doctors, PT and speech people at  Cleveland Clinic Akron General in the ICU and unit 52.- especially James, Laura, Michelle, Sara, Lindsey, Brian, Kyle, Lisa, Kate, Dee, Kylia and PT person Janet who sang to motivate her. Thank you also to Dr. Leukhardt for being kind, patient, and willing to answer all our questions. You truly were a blessing to us.

Visitation will be at 10 am on SATURDAY, July 20th at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 50 N. Prospect Street, Akron, with funeral to follow at 11 am. Burial at Rose Hill Burial Park in Akron. Memorials to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Akron Woman’s City Club or University of Akron Music School.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, 85 N Miller Road, Akron, OH 44333 (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel).