Eleanor M. Dennis' Obituary
Eleanor was born to Julius and Rebecca Kane Cooper on January 4, 1926, in rural Bealton, Virginia. She had three brothers, all now deceased, and is survived by her only sister, Myrtle Walker. She boarded in town to finish school, and graduated from Culpeper High School in 1943. Eleanor joined other local young people, finding government work in wartime Washington, D.C. She met Marine Thomas J. “Jack” Dennis, an Okinawa veteran, and they married in September 1946. They built their home in Alexandria, Virginia, where sons Wayne and Thomas Jackson, Jr, (TJ) were born. The family enjoyed boating, fishing, and water skiing, always keeping in touch with their large, extended family in the Culpeper and Rappahannock area. Jack made his career in the radio and television industry, starting at WMAL radio and moving to WMAL TV in the early 1950’s. He retired from WJLA after a 45-year career. Eleanor worked in preschools and established Lincolnia Academy in the 1970’s. Jack and Eleanor retired to Rappahannock County, Virginia, where they were able to reconnect with friends and family in the area that had been their childhood home. They were members of Oak Shade United Methodist Church in Rixeyville. Eleanor lost Jack in 2004, after 57 years of marriage. She lived in Culpeper and Fredericksburg, before settling in Leesburg, Virginia, where she died on Saturday, January 26, 2013.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 from 6 to 8 pm at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 11 am at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel with Rev. Sharon Forbes officiating.
Interment will follow in Culpeper National Cemetery.
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