Elizabeth Louise Howard Decker Dotur, of Purcellville, Virginia died on March 23, 2016. She left this world at peace after living a full and joyful life.

Mrs. Dotur was born in 1931 in Washington, D C., the daughter of the late Thomas Burke and Dorothy Breeding Howard. She graduated from McKinley High School in Washington, DC, from the University of Maryland receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics majoring in Textiles and Clothing and Fashion Design, and from Virginia Tech with a Masters of Education majoring in school administration.

Mrs. Dotur was an Assistant Fashion Coordinator at Woodward and Lothrop in Washington, DC, and then she was a Textile Analyst for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Later she was an educator in the Loudoun County Virginia Public School System for twenty years serving as an elementary school principal for ten of those years.
Mrs. Dotur was an enthusiastic member of the Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital, a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, and a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She loved to sew and to design clothing. She traveled all over the world with her husband and with friends.

Her first marriage to Richard Frank Decker ended in divorce. Her second husband, Stephen Paul Dotur, preceded her in death.
Mrs. Dotur is survived by her son John Decker and his wife Kristen as well as her son Richard Decker and his wife Sue Ann. She is also survived by her step-son Jeffrey Dotur and his wife Dr. Patricia Alexander, and her step-daughter Nancy Dotur Watkins and her husband Grant.

Mrs. Dotur was preceded in death by her brother Thomas Howard Jr and his daughter Elizabeth Howard. She is survived by Thomas' wife Kathleen Howard, and their son Thomas Howard III.

Mrs. Dotur is survived by 8 grandchildren, Rebecca Dawson, Skyelar Decker, Laurie Ludi, Bethany Warren, Christopher Dotur, Jonathan Thurman, Noel Watkins, and Grant Watkins. She is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren, Abigail Dotur, Annaleigh Dotur, Aubrey Clark, and Jackson Ludi.

A celebration of Mrs. Dotur's life will be held at St. James Episcopal Church with The Reverend Kate Bryant officiating on Wednesday March 30, 2016 at 4:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Parkway, Leesburg, VA 20176, or St. James' Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall Street, Leesburg, VA 20176.