Eleanor May Payne Yowell

Eleanor May Payne Yowell, 87, of Bedford, died Tuesday, October 10, 2006. Born March 25, 1919 in Bedford County, a daughter of the late Virgil Hansford and Martha Mitchell Payne. Eleanor was a member of Bedford Presbyterian Church. In addition to her parents, Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, William Andrew Yowell, Jr. She is survived by a son, William Andrew Yowell III and his wife, Jan of Raphine, Va.; a daughter, Martha Freaney and her husband, Greg of Bedford; six grandchildren, Charles Edmund Yowell, Christopher Tyler Yowell, William Andrew Yowell IV and his wife, Dana, Lee Castleton Yowell and his wife, Aimee, William Francis Freaney and Kathryn Hansford Freaney; five great-grandchildren, Katherine Marie Yowell, Megan Emily Yowell, Julianne Michelle Yowell, Lily Madeline Yowell and Ella Durham Yowell; two nieces, Susan Schofield Thomes and Jane Schofield Pride; a sister-in-law, Ann Yowell; a special friend, Dinx Jansen; a caretaker, Delores Robertson; and two special lifelong friends, Nina Jarvis and Eileen Beckman. Memorial contributions may be made to Bedford Presbyterian Church, 105 W. Main Street, Bedford, Va. 24523, National Dystonia Research Foundation, One East Wacker Dr., Ste. 2430, Chicago, Ill. 60601-1905 or a charity of your choice. A celebration of Eleanor's life will be conducted at 12:15 p.m., Sunday, October 15, 2006 at Bedford Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Francis B. Avery, Jr. officiating. Interment will be private. To send condolences, please visit www.tharpfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, 586-3443.