Lilo Markrich died Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at the age of 98 with family by her side.  She was born Liselotte Loevy on September 15, 1923 in Koenigsberg, East Prussia.  She spent her early childhood in Koenigsberg, raised by her maternal grandparents who built the first modern department store in that city, S. Kiewe and Co.  Her sense of style and love of fine merchandise had an early start.

Accurately assessing the rise of Hitler and antisemitism in Germany, her grandparents emigrated to England in March 1933, taking their granddaughter with them.  Arriving in London, and joining their son, who was already there, they established a new business on Brompton Road, the Art Needlework Industries, Inc. ("A.N.I.").   Lilo learned English quickly and was sent to school at the French Lycée. Her education was interrupted, however, by the internment of her grandparents and uncle, perceived as aliens at the beginning of the war. Lilo was not interned and stayed in London during the early bombing of London with other relatives.  After release from their internment, Lilo accompanied her grandparents to Oxford where they re-opened the A.N.I. with her uncle, who was one of England's leading authorities in the history and design of knitwear, tapestry and embroidery, creating and publishing charts for these purposes. Throughout her life, Lilo expressed admiration for the British people and how they conducted themselves through the darkest days of World War II. In 1947 she travelled to visit her mother in San Francisco.  And there at a dinner party she met William L. Markrich who became the great love of her life. She returned to London, but left a few months later to marry Bill and settled with him in San Francisco, where he was teaching, working and studying law and Romance languages before joining the Central Intelligence Agency. Lilo found work at Robert Kirk Clothiers, where her British accent, friendly manner and knowledge of textiles made her a successful saleswoman.

While in California, she developed her skills as a weaver, purchased a large foot loom and worked with local textile artists. When her husband was transferred to Key West, Florida in 1959 she became a part of that island's vibrant arts culture, and excelled at weaving distinct and unique pieces such as Key West Colors, a rendition of the local coral reefs at sunset. Her work was featured at the Martello Gallery.  Her involvement in the local art community was such that she was awarded a key to the City of Key West for her contributions.

In 1962 her husband was transferred to Washington D.C. and the family bought a home in Arlington, Virginia. In the metropolitan area she began teaching weaving in a pioneering program for children with special needs and developed a love of teaching textile art, especially needlepoint, to adults that would become a focus of her career.

After Bill died in 1967, she stayed on in the Washington area. As Lilo supported her four children, she found work at The Textile Museum, where she helped pioneer the use of the research collection as a source of design for textile museum products such as ties, scarves, and hand-made textiles. It was at the Textile Museum that she was able to combine her love of textiles, innovative design and merchandising. At the museum, she was afforded many opportunities for research and interactions with textile scholars, making many life-time friends.

Over the course of several years, she authored books and articles on needlepoint, including Principles of the Stitch and Victorian Fancywork.  She also was a contributing editor to Threads Magazine. In later years, Lilo volunteered at a local thrift shop – always on the look-out for "good stuff," a nice chat and a good cup of tea. When time and energy allowed, Lilo also volunteered to speak at middle schools about her wartime experiences, and the challenges of being a refugee.

After retirement, she pursued the university education that she had been unable to get because of limitations imposed by WWII.  Ultimately, she obtained a bachelor's and a master's degree from Georgetown University.

A skilled and gifted craftswoman, she produced extraordinary woven pieces and needlework, always demonstrating a remarkable sense of color, design and creativity. She read avidly and widely, knew history and expressed her views with candor.  She loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren fiercely.  She is survived by her children Julia Krebs-Markrich (Hans-B. Krebs), Michael Markrich (Kathleen Racuya Markrich), Sandra Markrich Brennan (Peter Brennan) and Capt. Jonathan Markrich, USN (Katsumi Ono Markrich), and by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren - Marietta (Tom), Melanie (David), Mikayla, Max, William, Katie, Sayako, Lucius, Eloise, Beatriz, and Nico.

Donation's in Lilo's name can be made to The National Children's Center ( nccinc.org ), The Campagna Center ( campagnacenter.org ) or other charity of your choice.