Obituary for Eleanor Faye Trotter (Bowlware)
Eleanor Faye Trotter was born at home on May 16, 1932 to Cecil Robert and Mary Geneva (Young) Bowlware. She and her brother Larry were raised in the South Oklahoma City area. Her family attended Agnew Baptist Church when she was younger and she was baptized there when she was 9 years old.
Growing up, Eleanor enjoyed spending time with her cousins on their grandparents’ farm. Family was important to her and she cherished those years, holding all of the memories close. Eleanor graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1950. She worked at Silver Drug and Sundry and also worked for an Insurance Company in her earlier years. In 1952 she went to work for Tinker Air Force Base as an administrative assistant in the Electronics and Maintenance Dept. Shortly after she started her career, she met a man named Robert Winter and the two hit it off. So well, in fact, that he proposed to her and on May 22, 1953 the two married in Oklahoma City.
Robert and Eleanor were blessed with two children, Cynthia and Mark. Eleanor loved being a wife and a mother, and in 1961 she decided to retire from Tinker to focus on her family, which she did selflessly throughout her life. Eleanor, Robert and the children attended Exchange Avenue Baptist Church and they were very active members. Her recent move as a homemaker also allowed her more time to help at the church where she taught Sunday School as well as serving as Director and Associate Director for her Sunday School department. Having a passion for music, Eleanor sang in the Sanctuary Choir, Silver Set Choir and was a member of the Hand Bell Choir.
The family moved to Alaska when Robert accepted a job there, and Eleanor loved spending the summers camping and experiencing all the beauty Alaska had to offer. She loved taking scenic trips and cherished the memories she made with her children along the way. In her spare time Eleanor enjoyed, first and foremost…cleaning, but also was a talented seamstress and loved crafting, ceramics, crocheting and cross-stitch. A gifted pianist with a well-trained ear, she could play virtually anything.
Eleanor’s family suffered a loss in 1991 when her husband, Robert, passed away. He was their rock and his early death really shook their world. Eleanor’s family, friends and church family helped keep her strong during those dark times. Through her church activities, Eleanor met Joe Trotter, another Exchange Ave. member that had lost his spouse many years before. The two found comfort when they were together and that ultimately brought about healing. They decided to solidify the bond they had formed and were married on April 27, 1996 at Exchange. Together Eleanor and Joe were able to stay active with the church and unite their two families. They traveled often and spent a lot of time with their children and grandchildren. Their lives were full once again, but all great things must come to an end, and a few months after their 17th wedding anniversary, Joe passed away.
Eleanor was strong in the Lord and she persevered again after the loss of her second husband. Shortly after Joe’s death, she moved in with her daughter, Cynthia, to be closer to her family. Not wanting to be in the way (of course she wasn’t), she later moved into a place of her own right next door to her daughter since being an active part of her family’s life was so important to her.
Eleanor will always be remembered for her many, many talents and her impeccably clean house, but mostly for all of the selfless ways she served her family, which will never be forgotten. Her memory will live on in their hearts forever.
Eleanor was preceded in death by:
Her parents, Cecil Robert and Mary Geneva (Young) Bowlware;
First husband, Robert Winter; and
Second Husband, Joe Trotter
She is survived by:
Daughter, Cynthia Benson and fiancé Dan Mullenix;
Son, Mark Winter;
Brother, Larry Bowlware, his wife Deborah and their children, Tracy Bowlware, Ryan Bowlware and his wife Brooke;
Step-Son, Jimmy Trotter and wife Mary;
Step-Daughter: Beverly Wells and husband Dennis;
5 Grandchildren: Dustin Benson, Toby Trotter and wife Cari, Alicia Pritchard, Callie Cardwell and husband Brian, and Mandy Trotter;
8 Great Grandchildren: James Benson; Kayton, Laney and Colin Ross; Deacon Pritchard; and Cade, Ainsley and Shelby Trotter,
As well as many other loving family and friends.
Growing up, Eleanor enjoyed spending time with her cousins on their grandparents’ farm. Family was important to her and she cherished those years, holding all of the memories close. Eleanor graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1950. She worked at Silver Drug and Sundry and also worked for an Insurance Company in her earlier years. In 1952 she went to work for Tinker Air Force Base as an administrative assistant in the Electronics and Maintenance Dept. Shortly after she started her career, she met a man named Robert Winter and the two hit it off. So well, in fact, that he proposed to her and on May 22, 1953 the two married in Oklahoma City.
Robert and Eleanor were blessed with two children, Cynthia and Mark. Eleanor loved being a wife and a mother, and in 1961 she decided to retire from Tinker to focus on her family, which she did selflessly throughout her life. Eleanor, Robert and the children attended Exchange Avenue Baptist Church and they were very active members. Her recent move as a homemaker also allowed her more time to help at the church where she taught Sunday School as well as serving as Director and Associate Director for her Sunday School department. Having a passion for music, Eleanor sang in the Sanctuary Choir, Silver Set Choir and was a member of the Hand Bell Choir.
The family moved to Alaska when Robert accepted a job there, and Eleanor loved spending the summers camping and experiencing all the beauty Alaska had to offer. She loved taking scenic trips and cherished the memories she made with her children along the way. In her spare time Eleanor enjoyed, first and foremost…cleaning, but also was a talented seamstress and loved crafting, ceramics, crocheting and cross-stitch. A gifted pianist with a well-trained ear, she could play virtually anything.
Eleanor’s family suffered a loss in 1991 when her husband, Robert, passed away. He was their rock and his early death really shook their world. Eleanor’s family, friends and church family helped keep her strong during those dark times. Through her church activities, Eleanor met Joe Trotter, another Exchange Ave. member that had lost his spouse many years before. The two found comfort when they were together and that ultimately brought about healing. They decided to solidify the bond they had formed and were married on April 27, 1996 at Exchange. Together Eleanor and Joe were able to stay active with the church and unite their two families. They traveled often and spent a lot of time with their children and grandchildren. Their lives were full once again, but all great things must come to an end, and a few months after their 17th wedding anniversary, Joe passed away.
Eleanor was strong in the Lord and she persevered again after the loss of her second husband. Shortly after Joe’s death, she moved in with her daughter, Cynthia, to be closer to her family. Not wanting to be in the way (of course she wasn’t), she later moved into a place of her own right next door to her daughter since being an active part of her family’s life was so important to her.
Eleanor will always be remembered for her many, many talents and her impeccably clean house, but mostly for all of the selfless ways she served her family, which will never be forgotten. Her memory will live on in their hearts forever.
Eleanor was preceded in death by:
Her parents, Cecil Robert and Mary Geneva (Young) Bowlware;
First husband, Robert Winter; and
Second Husband, Joe Trotter
She is survived by:
Daughter, Cynthia Benson and fiancé Dan Mullenix;
Son, Mark Winter;
Brother, Larry Bowlware, his wife Deborah and their children, Tracy Bowlware, Ryan Bowlware and his wife Brooke;
Step-Son, Jimmy Trotter and wife Mary;
Step-Daughter: Beverly Wells and husband Dennis;
5 Grandchildren: Dustin Benson, Toby Trotter and wife Cari, Alicia Pritchard, Callie Cardwell and husband Brian, and Mandy Trotter;
8 Great Grandchildren: James Benson; Kayton, Laney and Colin Ross; Deacon Pritchard; and Cade, Ainsley and Shelby Trotter,
As well as many other loving family and friends.