Eleanor Van Winkle, 87, a former Baker City resident, died May 19, 2005, at her home in Indianola, Iowa.
Her graveside service will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City, with Pastor Robin Harris officiating.
Eleanor was born April 28, 1918, in Baker City. She went to grade school at Rye Valley and graduated in 1936 from Vale High School. She earned an accounting degree from LaSalle Extension University in Chicago.
Eleanor was a welder in a shipyard during World War II. She worked as an accountant for Ore-Ida Frozen Foods for 25 years. In her spare time she was a farmer, 4-H leader, mechanic, seamstress, gardener and carpenter.
Eleanor was a faithful member of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly for 19 years, serving as a Deaconess, Sunday School teacher, Missionettes leader, Ladies Bible Study speaker and visitation ministry.
She was such a fun grandmother, doing cartwheels, backbends, splits and playing games and baseball with her grandchildren up into her 60s. She memorized several books of the Bible and could quote them to her grandchildren word for word.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Janis and John Hart of Indianola, and Virginia and Monty Thompson of La Grande; a sister, Mary Ellen Groen of John Day; five grandchildren: Wayne Hart and his wife, Donna, Kathy Stephenson and her husband, Clifford; Wanda Habecker and her husband, Pierre; Carla Bates and her husband, Gene; and Larkin Thompson; nine great-grandchildren: Eric Bates, Joel Hart and his wife, Carrie; Aaron Hart and his wife, Anna; Jason Hart, Dean Stephenson, Angela Stephenson, Shane Stephenson, Tausha Habecker and Clayton Habecker; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Eleanor was preceded in death by two husbands, Wayne Staples and Harmon Van Winkle; her parents, Warren and Vera Powell; and a sister, Dorothy Cameron.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 27, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor