Eleanor Margaret Wilson Forrester

Eleanor Margaret Wilson Forrester, 89, of Blackstone, Va., passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2011.

She was born in Washington, DC, daughter of John Hartley Wilson and Sadie Maude Glotfelty Wilson. Eleanor grew up in Berwyn, MD, where she attended local schools. She was a member of the Berwyn Presbyterian Church, where she met Dick Forrester, and married in 1941. She lived in Stillwater, OK, while Mr. Forrester completed his degree at Oklahoma A & M and she returned to Maryland while he was overseas during World War II. Following the war, the family moved to Powhatan, VA. In 1948, they moved to Cottage Road near Blackstone, VA where they operated a dairy and beef farm Windrow and raised their family.

Eleanor is survived by her husband,Dick R.Forrester, Jr., with whom she celebrated seventy years of marriage last June, and by six children; Dick H. Forrester (Teresa) of Eatonton, GA; Judith F. Lally (Brian) of Alexandria, VA; Linda F. Bellizzi (John) of Great Barrington, MA; Thomas R. Forrester (Sandra) of Blackstone, VA; Kathleen F. Franklin (Richard) of Midlothian, VA, and Sharon F. Farley (Stephen, decd.) of Glen Allen, VA.; fourteen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.

She was active in the Blackstone Presbyterian Church where she was the first person awarded an Honorary Life Membership by the Women of the Church. Eleanor also served as an elder, deacon, recording treasurer and president of the Women of the Church. She was a choir member, circle chairman, Sunday school teacher, and Bible school teacher. With Mr. Forrester, she hosted a coffee gathering between Sunday school and church every Sunday for twenty years; she said she enjoyed seeing everyone, little children to adults, helping themselves to cake or brownies, coffee or juice, and she wanted church to be a welcoming place for all. In past years, Eleanor was a member of the Blackstone Garden Club and the Three Arts Club; she served as a Brownie Scout leader and PTA president when her children were in school.

Funeral services will be held 11 A.M., Saturday, October 15, at the Blackstone Presbyterian Church where the family will receive friends following the service. Burial will be private in Lakeview Cemetery, Blackstone.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Women of the Church, Blackstone Presbyterian Church, 301 Church Street, Blackstone, VA 23824.

Registry and condolences: www.McMillianFuneralHome.com

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