Elsie Hines Ippolito

KILL DEVIL HILLS-Elsie Hines Ippolito, 69, a native of Duck, NC passed on Saturday June 4, 2011. Elsie was predeceased by her parents, Lemuel Crawford Hines and Dora Curles Hines, younger brother, Anthony Hines, and husband, Frank Edward Ippolito, Jr.

Elsie grew up in the small fishing village of Duck, in the last house on the left, where the paved road ended.  She spent much of her childhood in the undeveloped Martin’s Point.  She attended school in Kitty Hawk village, two years of high school at Griggs High, and graduated from Manteo High School, Class of 1959.  She was scouted for her basketball talent and was fondly nicknamed “Big Red”.  One of her favorite pastimes was dancing at the Casino after checking her shoes at the door.

After high school, she married and had three girls. Elsie had many interests but found her calling in the booming Outer Banks real estate market in the early 1980s where she excelled in the Timeshare industry. Elsie was a born salesman and believed in her product, the Outer Banks. She was well known and well loved by all she encountered. She was adventurous and often followed the timeshare market across the East Coast, but returned to her roots on the Outer Banks. Elsie had a great sense of humor, and was always the life of the party. She never met a stranger.

Although medical issues presented challenges in recent years, Elsie was always optimistic and enjoyed her time and new friends at Spring Arbor. Elsie is survived by her daughters, Wendi Willoughby and husband Ron; Billie Barton Ketcham and husband Frank; and April Barton Adams and husband BJ. She is also survived by grandchildren, Andy Michael, Shane Michael, Ryan Michael, Meagan Gomez, Eric Willoughby, Jesse Willoughby, and several great-grandchildren. Elsie leaves behind sisters, Darlene Turner and husband Bill; Lynn Hines and Barbara Bradac; brothers, Billy Hines and wife Cindy; and Keith Hines and wife Denise. She will also be missed by her devoted Shih Tzu, Thai.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, 23 June, at 6pm at the new Duck Town Park 1200 Duck Road, Duck, North Carolina 27949, (252) 255-1234. The family requests that memorials and donations be made to Monarch Beach Club Dare, 823 Highway 64/264, Manteo, NC 27954, (252) 473-1364; or the Dare County SPCA, PO Box 2477, Manteo, NC 27954.

Condolences to the family may be expressed via the online register www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc. was entrusted with arrangements.