Eleanor Washburn Obituary

Eleanor Washburn passed away peacefully in her Houghton Lake home on July 23rd. She was 96 years old.

Eleanor was born July 11, 1929, in her family's farmhouse in Sandwich, Illinois, the younger sister of Loretta. She graduated from Maple Park, Illinois, High School, and attended Eastern New Mexico University. In 1949, she married Bill Washburn, love of her life, and over the next few years, they welcomed their three daughters.

While raising their girls in St. Charles, Illinois, she spent many years as a Girl Scout Leader, then returned to college to earn her degree in Early Childhood Education. She then took Montessori training and taught young children in that school for several years in Woodstock, Illinois.

In 1991, she and Bill relocated from Illinois to Houghton Lake, where they enjoyed life on the lake. After Bill passed in 1995, she became involved in Global Classroom and traveled the world with friends and family. Eleanor was active in the Historical Society, the Kirtland Garden Club, and was a long-time reading volunteer at the local elementary school. She was a charter member of the Tea Leaf Club International, in which she served as membership chair and often gave educational presentations.

Eleanor had a heart of gold, and her friends were her treasures. She fed the birds that came to her yard, lovingly raised many varieties of colorful geraniums, and never met a card game she couldn't conquer. She was the soul of the "wine, cheese, and crackers" club in her neighborhood; always a generous hostess. Our family gives thanks to all of her dear friends for their love, care, and devotion over the years.

Eleanor is survived by her daughters Anne (Paul), Mary (Steven), and Jane; seven adoring grandchildren and six precious great-grands, all of whom she loved with all her heart.

You may express your condolences to the family at www.christler-holdship.com. Christler Funeral Home-Prudenville Chapel is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family would like a tree planted in Eleanor's memory.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eleanor G. (Gletty) Washburn, please visit our floral store.