ROCKPORT: Eleanor L. (Runkle) Stevens, 78, died peacefully in her home on Thursday, July 12, 2007 following a lengthy illness. She was the daughter of the late Lloyd O. and Helen M. (Tarr) Runkle. She was born in Tiffin, Ohio but was raised and educated in Gloucester. She was married for a brief time to the late Jack R. Stevens.
In her youth she was surrounded by music and learned to play piano at her mother’s knee. She had a wonderful voice and sang with Chorus Pro Musica and in the professional choir at Trinity Church in Boston for many years. Ringing handbells was a lifelong passion that began in 1938 when her mother Helen purchased eight bells from the White Chapel foundry in London and founded the Bell Ringers of Cape Ann. When Ellie resettled in Massachusetts, she formed a group of ringers among her co-workers at IBM in Burlington and later a group on Cape Ann. More recently she has been a part of The Bells of Harvey Park and the handbell choir at the Rockport Baptist Church.
After graduating from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, she worked for many years at the Air France office in Boston. After residing for several years in Denver, Portland, Oregon and New York State, she returned to Massachusetts. She worked for IBM in administration for twenty-two years, and after her retirement was a long-time secretary at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and the Sandy Bay Yacht Club in Rockport.
She is survived by a sister-in-law, Priscilla D. Runkle of Billerica, several nieces and nephews, Virginia R. Scott of Gilroy, CA, Paul E. Runkle of Billerica, Dita Runkle of British Columbia, Emily Chorba of Aptos, CA and Allan Runkle of La Cañada, CA. She also leaves her great-nieces and great-nephews, James Scott of Olympia, WA, Kendra Scott of San Jose, CA, Hannah and Taylor Runkle of La Cañada, CA, and Scott and Kimberly Runkle of Billerica, and a wide circle of many loving friends who will dearly miss her loving presence.
A memorial concert will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 24 Broadway, Rockport on October 21, 2007 at 2 PM.
Donations may be made in her memory to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 24 Broadway, Rockport, MA 01966 or to the Thacher Island Assoc., P.O. Box 73, Rockport, MA 01966. For further information and online condolences, please visit www.grondinfuneralservices.com.