Eleanor Humphrey

Eleanor Humphrey died January 12, three days after her 101st birthday, at Ohio Living Rockynol. She was born in Pittsburgh PA, the daughter of Jessie and Elmer Jackson. In 1933 the family moved to Akron, where she lived most of her life. She graduated from Buchtel High School and attended the University of Akron before working as a secretary at Goodyear.

She was married to Herbert Price, a First Lieutenant and B-26 pilot killed when his plane was shot down over France in 1943. For the duration of the war, she served as a caseworker at the American Red Cross of Summit County. When the war ended, she married James B. Holden, a Goodyear patent attorney. They had two children, Leah Ruth and James B., Jr. Happy and busy years followed, filled with volunteer work as a Red Cross grey lady and terms as president of Case School PTA, Litchfield Junior High PTA and the Women’s Board of Akron Children’s Hospital, until Mr. Holden’s untimely death in 1967. In 1969 Eleanor married Edwin Humphrey, a Goodyear executive. Their 35-year marriage featured children’s college graduations and marriages, the arrival of grandchildren, world travels, and a move to Florida, where Mr. Humphrey died in 2004. In 2005 Eleanor returned to Akron and moved to Concordia at Sumner, where she continued an active and engaged life. She has been at Ohio Living Rockynol since 2019.

She worked at and volunteered with the United Way of Summit County. In 1975 she received the Alumni Honor Award at the University of Akron, where she continued as an associate member of the Women’s Committee until her death. Her hobbies were painting, gardening, golf, bridge and travel. She was a member of the Junior League of Akron, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, Diggers and Weeders Garden Club, and Portage Country Club. She was the last surviving charter member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she served as deacon and elder.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister Ruth Beckwith and niece Susan Beckwith. Surviving are her two children, Leah of Akron and Jim (JuLee) of Denver CO; three step-daughters, Cindy Gordon (Murray) of East Hampton NY, Susan Tobergte (Ed) of Hilton Head SC, and Kathy Hanley (Joe), also of Hilton Head, twelve grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren, with another expected in February. Also surviving are niece Martha Shaughnessy (Dan) and nephew Charles Beckwith (Teri).

The family expresses gratitude to staff of Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice, Ohio Living Rockynol Assisted Living, and Senior Helpers, for care that allowed Eleanor to maintain direction of her life to its very end.

No service is planned at this time. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross of Greater Akron at https://www.redcross.org/local/ohio/northern-ohio/about-us/locations/greater-akron-mahoning-valley.html?CID=organic_gmb_listings

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road  Akron, OH 44333.