Eleanor Lewis Watts

1932 - 2024

Eleanor Lewis Watts passed away peacefully on January 28, 2024, at the age of 91, at Westminster Canterbury in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A celebration of her life will be held at Westminster Canterbury Chapel on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 2:00pm with a reception to follow.

Eleanor was born February 24, 1932, the youngest child of Eleanor Gray Lewis and Felix Wayne Lewis. She lived in Mt. Olive, Alabama through high school where she was an outdoor girl who enjoyed riding horses and playing in the woods. She loved belonging to the Girl Scouts, earning a Curved Bar, the highest award attainable at the time. She graduated from Phillips High School in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was active in choral groups, clubs, and diversified occupation programs. Eleanor was very active in Methodist Youth Fellowship where she met Henry Watts, to whom she was married on November 5, 1950.

Eleanor put her college plans on hold when she and Henry married. Several years later they moved to Arlington, Virginia, for his job. Here they raised their three daughters and made a warm and loving home for the family. She was involved with school volunteering, scouting, church programs, and community groups. In 1966 she began college classes and graduated from George Mason University in 1976 with a BA in Sociology.

In 1982 Eleanor and Henry moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, and settled into a new community. Grandchildren were now a big part of the family, and Eleanor was their well-loved Nana. In 1983, continuing her pursuit of life-long learning and a love of art, she became a docent at the Chrysler Museum of Art where she led countless school children through the museum until 1998. She loved introducing the wonders of the gallery to the youngsters. She also had a special place in her heart for Virginia Wesleyan University where she and Henry cheered on sports teams, the arts, and the academics of their students. Eleanor was an active and faithful member of Virginia Beach United Methodist Church and the Agape Sunday School class. She was generous with her time and talents in and among her church community.

During retirement Eleanor and Henry were able to travel extensively, continuing to learn and grow as they ventured around the world and the United States. Music was always special to her, and attending live performances was often a goal in their travels. Attending Chautauqua in upstate New York for 20 years she participated in lectures and discussion groups and was a member of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle.

She lived with Henry at Westminster Canterbury for the last 15 years of her life where wonderful friendships were made and cherished. Eleanor is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Dave Henry Watts; 3 daughters, Anne Durham (Thomas), Marty Watts, Susan Balla (Dave), 6 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many wonderful friends. Eleanor's family would like to extend a special thank you to the many kind care givers at Westminster Canterbury who made her later life comfortable and meaningful.

In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to the Westminster Canterbury Foundation or The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia.