Elaine May Hantz

Feb 12, 1928 -

Oct 26, 2022

Longtime Anchorage resident Elaine May Hantz (Layton), died Oct. 26, 2022, at her assisted living home. She was 94.

Elaine was born Feb. 12, 1928, in East Stroudsburg, Pa., to Russell and Beulah Heller Layton. She was raised in the village of Shawnee-on-Delaware near East Stroudsburg. She graduated from East Stroudsburg High School in 1944 and from East Stroudsburg State Teacher's College (now East Stroudsburg State University) in 1949 with a B.S. in Education. She also earned an M.A. in Liberal Arts from Alaska Pacific University in 1981.

Elaine met her husband Sgt. Leo Hantz at a USO dance in Maryland, where she was teaching at the time. A 20-year military career took Elaine and Leo, all over the world, with tours of duty in Germany and France, as well as in the U.S. Elaine and Leo were stationed at Fort Richardson from 1965 to 1968. She taught geography at Arcturus Jr. High School from 1966 until 1972, when the school was closed. She then taught at Gruening Middle School until her retirement in 1986. After her retirement she remained active in the community and served as president of the University Community Council for five years. After retirement, Elaine and Leo traveled widely, from China to Australia, to Egypt and India, down the Amazon River and a cruise through the Panama Canal. Her last major trip was a cruise of the eastern Mediterranean when she was 82 years old.

Elaine loved traveling, fishing for halibut on their boat in Homer and spending time with their family at their cabin near Talkeetna.

Elaine was devoted to her family, and especially doted on her two grandchildren. She rarely missed a band concert, play or sports event in which they participated. Elaine was a good friend and generous with her time and willingness to help. She was much loved by her family, and we are grateful for the time we had with her.

She is survived by her daughter, Diane and son-in-law, Bill Walters of Anchorage; her son and daughter-in-law, Richard Hantz and Christine Benedict of Port Angeles, Wash.; her granddaughter, Jessica, husband, Robert and great-grandson Max Lanzafame of Delft, Netherlands; and grandson, Nathan, wife, Tiana and great-granddaughte,r Norah Walters of Anchorage. She is also survived by her sister, Marlene and brother-in-law, Harry Nace of Lexington, Ky. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo in Feb. 2007.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan 3, 2023, at Evergreen Memorial Chapel. The Reverend Piper Cartland of Eagle River Presbyterian Church will officiate. Her inurnment was at Fort Richardson National Cemetery alongside her husband Sgt. First Class Leo Hantz.