Ernestine Lorraine Pumphrey, a retired hospital administrative clerk, died of complications from cancer Sept. 2 at the Joseph Richey Hospice in downtown Baltimore. The Gwynns Falls area resident was 80.
Born Ernestine Lorraine Matthews in Baltimore and raised on North Carrollton Avenue, she was a 1946 Frederick Douglass High School graduate, where she was active in the music program. She studied classical music throughout her childhood and while a student at Morgan State University, she met her future husband, John A. Pumphrey. She played the piano while he played the violin at a recital.
"She would often give impromptu concerts for our six children," her husband said. "She had a musical gift. There was always music in the house."
After raising a family, she became an administrative clerk at Mercy Medical Center in downtown Baltimore. She retired 12 years ago.
She was a former member of Providence Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir.
She collected ceramic bears and elephants.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Services, 5151 Baltimore National Pike.
In addition to her husband of 57 years, survivors include five sons, Stewart E. Pumphrey of Dayton, Ohio, Jonathan E. Pumphrey of Shrewsbury, Pa., Brad R. Pumphrey and Brian T. Pumphrey of Baltimore and Guy S. Pumphrey of Hartford, Conn.; a daughter, Andrea L. Melvin of Rocks in Harford County; a brother, Donald E. Matthews of Baltimore; 12 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
