Beryl Louisa Showalter

Beryl Louisa Showalter of Southold passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 6 at age 88.

Beryl was born in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 7, 1925, to Phillip and Sylvia Bramley. She attended the Vaucluse Ladies Academy in Richmond, Australia, and later earned her Master of Arts degree from Prahran College in Melbourne.

Beryl immigrated to the United States in 1946 and worked with the Afghanistan Delegation to the U.N. In 1950 she married Ralph Showalter of Virginia and spent 20 years working as the personal assistant to Mr. Paul Marriott, co-founder of Marriott Corporation. In 1956 she was honored with the “Outstanding Female Business Person Award” from the Washington, D.C. Business Association.

Beryl separated from her husband in 1969 and returned to Australia with her son, Christopher, where she applied her administrative skills while working at Prahran College and Monash University until her retirement in 1985. In retirement, Beryl devoted her time to the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs of Glen Waverly, Australia, as an active volunteer.

In 2005, Beryl returned to the United States to live with her son and his family in Southold.

Beryl is survived by her son, Christopher Showalter, his wife, Joanne Showalter, and their three children, Gabrielle, Lucie and Christopher Jr.

The family received visitors July 8 at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service was held at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold. Cremation was private.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

This is a paid notice.