Eleanor Tankersley Obituary

Eleanor Murray Tankersley

Eleanor Murray Tankersley, "OE" died on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. Born in Lynchburg on March 29, 1916, she was the daughter of Claude Nelson Tankersley Sr. and Allie Rockecharlie Tankersley. Two sisters, Alice T. Baldock and Jean T. Hutter, and seven brothers, Ralph, Garvin, Paxton, Russell, Roland, Floyd, and Claude Nelson Tankersley preceded Eleanor in death.

She is survived by one sister, Shirley T. Ricketts, of Lynchburg, Va. She is survived by sisters-in-law Virginia Tankersley, of Ocala, Fla., Bazy Tankersley of Tucson, Ariz., and Lois Tankersley, of Fla., and special brother-in-law George Hutter, of Richmond, Va. as well as many nieces, nephews and Godchildren.

OE was surrogate grandmother to two, Carrie Graves Humphreys and Reed E Graves III and was called "Special Grandma" by numerous children. These children were "her flowers." Eleanor was a lasting, loving and important influence in the lives of many-young and old.

A graduate of E. C. Glass High School, Eleanor furthered her education with extension courses and completed a summer session at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She was an employee of Craddock-Terry in the sales office for 22 years. In 1955, Eleanor began her employment at Babcock & Wilcox, Old Forest Road, retiring after 26 years as Employee and Public Relations administrator.

Eleanor devoted her life to family, church, children and community affairs. She enjoyed her friends, her piano, reading, traveling and Bible study. Her special interest in the Bible scriptures and love for children was manifest during the 42 years in which OE taught in the Children's Department at Centenary United Methodist Church. She conducted confirmation classes for several years and was a Bible teacher for several adult circles. Eleanor also served as a Trustee. In later years, she joined Rivermont Presbyterian Church where she was a member of Circle 1 of the Women of the Church and attended the Adult Bible Sunday School.

Eleanor was active on the boards of several United Way agencies and for eleven years was the recording secretary of the American Red Cross (1969-1980). During her three-year tenure as president of the YWCA, Eleanor was instrumental in the integration of the YWCA-Camp Ruthers. She was also a charter member of the Friends of the Community Market, one of her favorite volunteer activities.

It was Eleanor's desire to express her appreciation of the devoted and loving care of Linda Long, Joyce Gentry and Shirl Douglas and many other in-her-home caregivers. The family would also like to thank the staff of Lynchburg Health & Rehab Center for their loving care of "Mrs. T" (as she was known to them).

Private interment will be in the Presbyterian Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday April, 30, 2011, at Rivermont Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Chris Deneen officiating. In lieu of flowers, it was Eleanor's wish that memorials be made to a favorite charity.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tharpfuneralhome.com.