Eleanor Thomson Roy

Eleanor Thomson Roy, 95, passed away peacefully Monday, January 17th, in her home at Rolling Green Village. She was married to the late Charles Thomson Roy, her beloved husband of seventy years who predeceased her in 2009. She is survived by her three children, Eleanor Roy Douglas (Lyn) and her husband John of Greenville, Catherine Roy Stone and her husband William of Martinsville, Virginia and Charles Thomson Roy Jr. (Tom) and his wife Janeice also of Greenville; by seven grandchildren, John Edgar Douglas Jr., William Francis Stone III, Anne Douglas Hull, Randolph Tyler Stone, Charles Thomson Roy III, Eleanor Roy Barrett and Henry James Roy; and by nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Pauline Thomson Rice of Belton and was predeceased by her brothers, Waddy R. Thomson Jr., and James C. Thomson, both lifelong residents of Greenville.

Mrs. Roy was born in Lancaster on September 1, 1915, the daughter of the late Waddy Randolph Thomson and Pauline Blackwell Thomson. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1932 and from Converse College in 1936 where she earned a bachelor of music degree in voice and piano performance. After graduation she studied voice and composition in New York City and gave many concerts in the Greenville area. For many years Mrs. Roy lived with her family on the North Shore of Chicago where she was an active member of the Winnetka Presbyterian Church of which she and her husband were founding members. At the church, she served as the first music director, pianist and vocal soloist, was on the original building committee and was president of the Women of the Church. She served on the Infant Welfare Board of Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, as president of the Kenilworth Neighbors Association and was a member of the Music Club of Evanston.

Mrs. Roy was an accomplished pianist and soprano soloist and shared her talent with others in many ways throughout her life. She performed for numerous charitable and social organizations. She instilled her love of music in her children and grandchildren and composed and sang songs for her family, friends and the church.

She and her husband moved from Kenilworth, Illinois to Greenville in 1970. They were members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She was accompanist for the Junior League Singers until she was 84 years old, for which she received the Junior League's Community Service Award. Mrs. Roy was a talented artist in needlework of her own design, pastels, watercolors and many other decorative arts. She was an avid gardener and flower arranger and a member of the Greenville Garden Club, Music Club of Greenville and the Rotary Book Club.

She was a devoted alumna of Converse College, encouraging many young women to attend there and supporting the music department for which she received the Mae E. Kilgo Spirit of Converse Award.

A memorial service will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 11am on Saturday, January 22nd. The family will receive friends following the service at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Charles T. Roy, 38 Quail Hill Drive.

The family would like to thank the loving and dedicated health professionals and caregivers who watched over Mrs. Roy: Linda Shuler, Clinic Director of Rolling Green Village; caregivers Diane Conrad, Tabitha Gillogly, Liisa Libes and Octavia Maronie; and the staff of Hospice Care of South Carolina. Memorials may be sent to the Eleanor T. Roy Vocal Scholarship Fund at Converse College, 580 East Main Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29302.

The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive