Eleanor Whitehead Straffin

STRAFFIN, Eleanor Whitehead, born March 16, 1916, passed away February 28, 2009. Born in Richmond, Eleanor attended Westhampton College and graduated from Radcliffe College in 1936, majoring in history, government and economics. She married Philip Straffin in 1938, and raised her family with love and skill in Scarsdale, N.Y. In 1974, Eleanor returned to Richmond to care for her mother. Passionate about history and the arts, she was an accomplished genealogist and supported the Virginia Historical Society, and many other civic institutions. She traveled to Europe on several tours sponsored by the University of Richmond. Eleanor moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2004 and lived in the Mountain View Retirement Village, where she is fondly remembered by residents and staff. Preceded in death by her husband and one son, Edwin Straffin, Eleanor lives on in the hearts of family and friends including her children and spouses, Philip and Judy Straffin of Longmont, Colorado, Anne and David Hall of Seattle, Wash., and Mary and Jack Horner of Tuscon, Ariz.; grandsons, Ethan Straffin, David and Jonathan Hall, Jason and Philip Horner; and great-grandsons, Bryce and Parker Hall. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Virginia Historical Society or the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.