Eleanor Ann (Bowman) BALSLEY

BALSLEY, BOWMAN, GRAVES, HOLLENBECK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

September 27, 1934 ---- April 20, 2018

Eleanor Ann Balsley, 83, passed away quietly at home in Virginia Beach, on 4/20/18, after a long battle with diabetes and other health issues. She was born in Britt, Iowa and grew up in nearby Clarion, Iowa. Her parents were the late Aaron and Winifred Bowman. Eleanor- 'Ellie'- attended the Kaylor [Kahler] School of Nursing in Rochester, Minnesota, and became a Registered Nurse in 1956.

Ellie moved to California for a nursing job, and soon met the love of her life- a young engineer named Leland L. Balsley. They were married within 6 weeks, on Dec. 24, 1958. After marriage, Ellie took on a new task, raising a family. For the rest of her life she continued with numerous volunteer services, including Meals on Wheels, membership in and Presidency of the Princess Anne Women's Club, long term assistance to many elderly friends, and, wherever she and her family lived, the unofficial position of neighborhood nurse.

Eleanor is predeceased by her sister Barbara Graves. She is survived by her husband Leland, her children Philip, David, her daughter Leanna, her 2 grandchildren Bryan and Rachel, and 2 great grand children, Grace and James. Ellie is also survived by her sister Ina Jane Hollenbeck, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and loving friends. We miss you, Ellie.

A memorial service will be held for Ellie on the 20th of June at 11:30 am at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 717 Tucson Road, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Operation Smile or Doctors Without Borders.

The Virginian Pilot -- Norfolk, Virginia
May 6, 2018