Geneva Faith Ely, a retired education professor and department chairwoman at what is now Towson University, died Friday at the community hospital in Sunbury, Pa., of complications from a fall. She was 90 and lived in Sunbury.

Dr. Ely, who retained her maiden name, was born in Sciota, Pa., the daughter of a clergyman. After graduating from high school in Cumberland, she earned her bachelor's degree in 1932 from Hood College. She earned a master's in education from Columbia University in 1941 and a doctorate in philosophy there in 1953.

She began her career teaching Latin and history at Frederick High School in 1932, and later was a guidance counselor there.

From 1945 until 1949, she was professor of education and also served as head of the department of education at Hood College.

Dr. Ely joined the Maryland Department of Education in 1949, and pioneered special education programs for gifted and learning-disabled students. She also headed its statewide adult education program before returning to teaching in 1967 at Towson.

At her 1982 retirement, she headed the college's department of secondary education.

Dr. Ely was a member of numerous professional organizations in areas including gifted and adult education, and had been a trustee of Hood College.

In 1954, she married Floyd Flickinger, an educator who died in 1992. The couple lived in Homeland, and Dr. Ely had been a member of First Reformed Church in Hampden. She enjoyed playing the organ and piano and was an accomplished needleworker.

After moving to Sunbury in 1990, she remained active in education, having been elected to three terms as a board member of the area's Shikellamy school district. Dr. Ely had just returned home from a working session of the school board when she was injured in a fall and died later that day.

Services were held yesterday at the First Reformed Church in Sunbury, where she was a member.

Dr. Ely is survived by a brother, Donald J. Ely of Sunbury; three sisters, Elinor V. Ely and Sarah A. Ely, both of Sunbury, and Eunice Ely Smith of Crownsville; and many nephews and nieces.