Eleanor HEIDER

WILLIAMSBURG - Eleanor Westbrook Heider, born Nov. 30, 1925, passed away on July 16, 2010.
An accomplished athlete, musician, and gardener, Ellie completed her Bachelor of Science at the College of William and Mary in 1947, where she was awarded an athletic letter and played clarinet in the marching band. Constrained by the conventions of being a post WWII housewife, instead of pursuing medicine, she became a science teacher. She sponsored the first Earth Day at Woodward High School in Cincinnati a month after burying her husband. Later that year she returned to Williamsburg where she taught hundreds of students at Queens Lake Intermediate School and helped populate its grounds with trees, one Arbor Day at a time. She was honored as York County and Queens Lake Teacher of the Year in 1976-1977.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Mildred Westbrook; and her husband, C. William Heider.
She is survived by her children, William "Brook" Heider (Nina) and Elizabeth "Beth" Heider (Joel La Bissonniere); two grandsons, William "Brook" II and Daniel. Greeting her in Heaven are her beloved dogs, Mitzi, Mitzi II, Buttons, Duchess, Rascal, Val and Freckles, left behind is Blossom.
The funeral and interment will be held at the historic chapel at Hickory Neck Episcopal Church, 8300 Richmond Road, Toano, VA 23168, on Monday, July 26, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow immediately afterward at the church.
She expressly wished that in lieu of flowers remembrances be made to the Heritage Humane Society of Williamsburg, Hickory Neck Church or a charity of your choice. It would please her most if you were to think of her when encountering a particularly beautiful fallen leaf. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.