Obituary for Elizabeth Wilson Madlener
Elizabeth Wilson Madlener, 81, of Martinsburg, passed away on Monday,
January 9, 2023 at Care Haven Nursing Home.
Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on September 6, 1941, she was the daughter of
the late Col. David Jesse Wilson and Betty June (Jackson) Wilson of Hampton, VA.
Elizabeth was an internationally recognized equestrian in dressage as a
competitor at the Grand Prix level, an international judge with the highest USDF ‘S’
ranking, examiner of judges, trainer of horses and riders many of whom competed
successfully in dressage, and freelance journalist to and contributing editor of
equestrian magazines. Her horses were listed in the top ten in national rankings,
earning AHSA, USDF, USET Horse of the Year Awards 1976-1983.
Highlights of her career include: 1) 1 st foreigner awarded the German Bronze Metal in Riding at
15 in 1957, 2) long-listed on the U.S. Dressage Equestrian Team (1977-1980), 3) a contender
for the 1980 Olympics (which the U.S. boycotted), 4) President and CEO of the
Maryland Horse Center, Inc. (1984-1993), 5) choreographer of an equestrian ballet
based on the Nutcracker, 6) President of Maryland’s Horse Council (1991-1994), 7)
Civilian Coordinator of the Equestrian Events for the Presidential Inaugural
Parade(1993), and 8) champion at numerous reginal and national dressage finals.
One ride in which Elizabeth expressed personal perfection was ‘the night [she]
danced at Devon’ Dressage in the freestyle event in summer of 1984. ‘The ride was a
bit avant-garde and the judges took exception to certain movements.’ Nevertheless,
‘that night remains for [her] one of those special moments in time when everything just
came together’ between rider and horse.
Elizabeth earned a BA (honors) and MA degrees in English and had a successful
career as teacher of English starting with high school in Norfolk, then as Head of the
English Department in a Seattle middle school, and finally spending 9 years as an
adjunct instructor at Prince George Community College in MD.
She is survived by her daughter Janet Cook, granddaughter Amy, two brothers
Tom and Steve Wilson, and two beloved nieces Becky and Lauren Wilson.
Memorial Service to be announced.
January 9, 2023 at Care Haven Nursing Home.
Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on September 6, 1941, she was the daughter of
the late Col. David Jesse Wilson and Betty June (Jackson) Wilson of Hampton, VA.
Elizabeth was an internationally recognized equestrian in dressage as a
competitor at the Grand Prix level, an international judge with the highest USDF ‘S’
ranking, examiner of judges, trainer of horses and riders many of whom competed
successfully in dressage, and freelance journalist to and contributing editor of
equestrian magazines. Her horses were listed in the top ten in national rankings,
earning AHSA, USDF, USET Horse of the Year Awards 1976-1983.
Highlights of her career include: 1) 1 st foreigner awarded the German Bronze Metal in Riding at
15 in 1957, 2) long-listed on the U.S. Dressage Equestrian Team (1977-1980), 3) a contender
for the 1980 Olympics (which the U.S. boycotted), 4) President and CEO of the
Maryland Horse Center, Inc. (1984-1993), 5) choreographer of an equestrian ballet
based on the Nutcracker, 6) President of Maryland’s Horse Council (1991-1994), 7)
Civilian Coordinator of the Equestrian Events for the Presidential Inaugural
Parade(1993), and 8) champion at numerous reginal and national dressage finals.
One ride in which Elizabeth expressed personal perfection was ‘the night [she]
danced at Devon’ Dressage in the freestyle event in summer of 1984. ‘The ride was a
bit avant-garde and the judges took exception to certain movements.’ Nevertheless,
‘that night remains for [her] one of those special moments in time when everything just
came together’ between rider and horse.
Elizabeth earned a BA (honors) and MA degrees in English and had a successful
career as teacher of English starting with high school in Norfolk, then as Head of the
English Department in a Seattle middle school, and finally spending 9 years as an
adjunct instructor at Prince George Community College in MD.
She is survived by her daughter Janet Cook, granddaughter Amy, two brothers
Tom and Steve Wilson, and two beloved nieces Becky and Lauren Wilson.
Memorial Service to be announced.