Obituary of Elva Aukland

Elva Dayton Aukland, 88, Biology teacher at Washington-Lee and T.C. Williams high schools and laboratory instructor for Marymount University, died Friday, September 24, in her home in Southern Shores, NC. Ms. Aukland, born Elva Samson Dayton in Arlington, VA was a high school graduate of W-L, attended Averett College for her associate studies and graduated from Wheaton College; she received her graduate degree from the University of Minnesota. She married Merrill F. Aukland and after living in Lexington, MA and Athens, OH moved back to Arlington in 1959. Active in the Arlington community, she was an instrumental figure in starting recycling in Arlington County. She introduced the Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, as an exploratory exhibit. Recognized numerous times by the Virginia Junior Academy of Science as an outstanding high school teacher, in 1979 she was selected as one of the ten best high school science teachers in the country. After her retirement from teaching high school, Ms. Aukland provided biology laboratory instruction for Marymount University in Arlington. In 1997 she and her husband moved to Southern Shores on the Outer Banks of NC. There she continued her community involvement serving as a Master Gardener, Membership Director for the Forum, and librarian and member of the hand bell choir at the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed traveling abroad, water aerobics, knitting, gardening and never stopped her thirst for knowledge. Ms. Aukland is survived by her two sons, Bruce Michael Aukland (Pamela) of Raleigh, NC and Duncan Dayton Aukland (Diane) of Worthington, OH; her daughter Rebecca Aukland Ramsey of Arlington, VA; her four granddaughters and two great-grandsons. A memorial service will be held Sunday, October 24 at 2:00 p.m. in the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church library at 207 S. Croatan Hwy (PO Box 2199), Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 or Dare Home Health & Hospice, PO Box 1000, 109 Exeter St., Manteo, NC 27954, please so designate on the memo line of your check. Internment will be at Southern Shores Cemetery at a later date. Twiford Funeral Homes’ Colony Chapel, Manteo, NC is assisting the family with arrangements.