Elizabeth J. Dols

Liz Dols, of West Chester, PA passed away Thursday September 4, 2025.

Born April 1, 1980 in Minneapolis, MN, she was the beloved daughter of Robert M Dols and Jane E Whitaker Dols. She spent her early years in Chanhassen, MN. The family moved to West Chester PA where she graduated from Unionville High School. Liz was an excellent student athlete participating in softball, basketball and cross-country sports.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in 2002. She was an active participant in the Penn State Outing Club and developed long lasting friendships. Liz was an avid cyclist, runner, skier, climber who participated in marathons, and triathlons, post college. She worked for 20 years in the outdoor gear/clothing industry; 14 years of that time was with The Full Circle Group in Marshalton, PA.

Liz was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in 2006. Following her diagnosis, Liz continued working and took on what she called her Second Job – living with cancer. She was a strong woman who was a participant in Clinical Trials that led to the development of lung cancer-fighting drugs. She developed close friendships with her team at Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine at UPenn.

She became active in The Livestrong Foundation.  She participated in lobbying trips to Washington DC for research funding and was involved in The Go 2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Research. She organized gift card donations for lung cancer patients and their families. Anything she could do to help cancer patients and their families deal with the cancer journey was on her to-do list.

Liz enjoyed traveling. She traveled the world over with her dear friends but particularly enjoyed time spent at the family lake home in Luck WI or on Siesta Key FL with family members.

At the heart of it all was her profound love for her family. She is survived by her parents, her exceptional brother Jim (Nicole) of Birdsboro PA; her cherished nephews Benjamin and Brayden; extended family and a wide circle of friends. Liz also leaves behind her loyal dog and best companion Peachy.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Loch Nairn Farm, Avondale, PA on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

The Dols family kindly requests monetary contributions be made to: The Lung Cancer Translation Center of Excellence at Penn Medicine: Lung Cancer Giving Page. Donations by mail, can be sent to: Penn Medicine Office of Development and Alumni Relations; 3535 Market Street, Ste 750; Philadelphia, PA 19104. With checks payable to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania with a memo of Lung Cancer TCE and/or Go2 for Lung Cancer.