Mrs. Eleanor H. Perry

Mrs. Eleanor H. Perry died at her home in Terre Haute, IN January 21, 2026. Born June 20, 1944 in Radford, VA, her parents were Ralph and Nettie Duncan Hypes.

Following her father's accidental death in 1952 and her mother's remarriage, she lived with her grandparents, Leona Clarence and Mary Guthrie Jones Hypes, until she enrolled at the University of Virginia in 1962, where she met the love of her life, Glenn Perry (now a professor emeritus at Indiana State University). The two were married at Grace Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC the following August 13, one day after he completed his doctorate.

Eleanor was known as a brilliant, hard-working student, winning numerous awards and fellowships. She earned her degree in Islamic history at the American University in Cairo when her husband taught there and continued her studies at Indiana University, where she completed an M.A. in Arabic literature. Her PhD dissertation lacked only a few minor last-minute corrections when a series of strokes, followed by falls and broken bones, intervened.

She was a devoted mother of five children and "Grandmama" of two later generations. From childhood on, she was a devout Christian. In addition, she sporadically was involved in local civic matters such as election recounts.

Aside from her parents, one son, Alex, and two grandsons, Damion Ashton Dean and Nicholas Carpenter, preceded her in death, as did two of her brothers, Wilmer and Douglas, and her sister Edith.

In addition to Eleanor's husband of 62 years, her survivors include a son, Glenn Jr. and wife, Mary Ruth; three daughters, Barbara, Cathy and husband, Todd, and Lucy; three brothers, Roger Hypes, Henry Wysong and wife, Angie, and Joe Sponaugle and wife, Jennie; eleven grandchildren, Helen Carpenter, Jack Carpenter, Dakota Dean, Calista Dean, Emily Grimm, Alex Majors, Julie Perry, Elizabeth Perry, Benjamin Perry, Audry Perry, and William Perry; and two beloved great grandchildren, Laila Guess and Connor Barth.

Friends may visit at the Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home in Indiana, Friday January 30 after 12 Noon until the funeral hour at 2 P.M.

Burial will be in the Taylor Cemetery in Laurel County announced at a later date and under the direction of the Knox Funeral Home.

Thanks go to many who helped during Eleanor's final weeks, especially to the Heart-to-Heart Hospice.

Local arrangements are under the direction of the Knox Funeral Home.