Obituary for Eleanor Hunter (Rathbun)
On Friday, February 5, 2021, Eleanor Frances Rathbun Hunter, loving wife and mother of 3 children, grandmother of 10, and great-grandmother of 6, went to be with the Lord at the age of 94.
Eleanor was born in Chicago, IL on July 9, 1926 to Rex and Roxie (Hymer) Rathbun. She and her family, including sisters Ruth and Betty, lived in several places around the Midwest while trying to make ends meet during the Great Depression. In her 20’s Eleanor decided to take the Civil Service Exam and moved halfway across the country in order to take a job with the National Security Agency. Living in Washington, DC was very exciting and she would tell stories of seeing President Truman on the street. On his morning constitutional, he would tip his hat to her as she walked to work. She also ran into Chief Justice Earl Warren, literally, at church.
Her sense of humor and adventure continued when on a trip home to Missouri her family fixed her up on a blind date. She was so exasperated with her folks for setting her up that she met her date at the door “wearing dungarees and with curlers in my hair”. She knew Donald (Don) Hunter was the one for her and they were engaged by the next day! They were happily married for 63 years until his passing in November 2019.
Eleanor loved the Lord, Jesus. She also loved music and was a gifted pianist using her talents to accompany many at church and to step in where needed. She spent many years serving the Lord by leading children’s choirs, playing piano, and working as Sunday school superintendent.
She and Don loved to travel and bought a camper after retiring from her Sears job (where she was an auditor for many years). Their dream trip was to drive out west, camping at many National Parks. She drew the line, though, and refused to camp at Mt. St. Helens which had erupted a few years before.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Don, parents Rex and Roxie, and sister, Ruth. She is survived by her children, Paul Hunter and wife, Karen; Sharon Ring and husband, Joseph; and Timothy Hunter and wife, Laura; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren, as well as, her sister Betty Darden, and brother-in-law Dennis.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Martinsburg on Saturday, February 13, 2021 with Pastor Craig Smith officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church.
Entombment will be at Rosedale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Eleanor’s name to Hospice of the Panhandle, Kearneysville, WV.
Eleanor was born in Chicago, IL on July 9, 1926 to Rex and Roxie (Hymer) Rathbun. She and her family, including sisters Ruth and Betty, lived in several places around the Midwest while trying to make ends meet during the Great Depression. In her 20’s Eleanor decided to take the Civil Service Exam and moved halfway across the country in order to take a job with the National Security Agency. Living in Washington, DC was very exciting and she would tell stories of seeing President Truman on the street. On his morning constitutional, he would tip his hat to her as she walked to work. She also ran into Chief Justice Earl Warren, literally, at church.
Her sense of humor and adventure continued when on a trip home to Missouri her family fixed her up on a blind date. She was so exasperated with her folks for setting her up that she met her date at the door “wearing dungarees and with curlers in my hair”. She knew Donald (Don) Hunter was the one for her and they were engaged by the next day! They were happily married for 63 years until his passing in November 2019.
Eleanor loved the Lord, Jesus. She also loved music and was a gifted pianist using her talents to accompany many at church and to step in where needed. She spent many years serving the Lord by leading children’s choirs, playing piano, and working as Sunday school superintendent.
She and Don loved to travel and bought a camper after retiring from her Sears job (where she was an auditor for many years). Their dream trip was to drive out west, camping at many National Parks. She drew the line, though, and refused to camp at Mt. St. Helens which had erupted a few years before.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Don, parents Rex and Roxie, and sister, Ruth. She is survived by her children, Paul Hunter and wife, Karen; Sharon Ring and husband, Joseph; and Timothy Hunter and wife, Laura; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren, as well as, her sister Betty Darden, and brother-in-law Dennis.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Martinsburg on Saturday, February 13, 2021 with Pastor Craig Smith officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church.
Entombment will be at Rosedale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Eleanor’s name to Hospice of the Panhandle, Kearneysville, WV.