Mrs. Ellen Brunot Greiner

Ellen Greiner, of Columbia, died on March 15, 2021. She was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on July 10, 1940, the daughter of William T. and Catherine Brunot. Growing up with a raucous group of four siblings, she spent her early childhood in Pennsylvania and Alabama before the family settled in Richmond, Virginia, for her middle and high school years.

Following graduation from high school with top academic honors, she matriculated at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia where she majored in English, played field hockey, was elected president of the student body, and graduated again with academic honors. Following graduation from Chestnut Hill, she was admitted to the rigorous graduate English program at the University of Virginia where she earned a master's degree with an emphasis in American literature. At the time, the University of Virginia was predominantly a male institution of 10,000 students with only approximately 800 women primarily enrolled in the fields of nursing, education, and graduate arts and sciences. As one male student quipped, Ellen stood out for “looks and brains.” After earning the only A in the graduate seminar in modern British poetry, the males in the class dubbed her “4-Bs”: “brilliant, beautiful, blond, Brunot.”

Ellen met her future husband, Donald J. Greiner, in the literature seminars at UVa where Don was studying for his doctorate. Prior to their marriage in 1964, she spent a year teaching college English in Danville, Virginia. Their daughter Kay was born in 1965. Following Don's graduation in 1967, they moved to Columbia where Don began his teaching/research career at the University of South Carolina. Their son Jim was born in Columbia in 1969. Even with two young children, Ellen decided that what she called “the front line of education” was not college teaching but pre-school learning, so she enrolled in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina and earned the M.Ed. in early childhood education. She then taught pre-school students for many years before, at age 50, surprising Don by announcing that she had been admitted to nursing school. Two years later she was a Registered Nurse (her fourth degree). She then laughingly signed her Christmas cards that year "T.E.—thoroughly educated." She was funny, upbeat, energetic, and always busy.

During her years in Columbia, Ellen was an avid gardener, tennis player, and hostess of many dinners and brunches. She and Don regularly attended concerts at the Koger Center and movies at the Nickelodeon. She enjoyed dining out at DiVino's and spending weeks at the beach where she took hour-long walks close to the ocean.

Ellen was pre-deceased by her lovely and beloved daughter Kay. Surviving are her husband of 56 years Dr. Don Greiner; her son Dr. Jim Greiner, his wife Jennifer, and her grandchildren Cassie and Kenny, all of Belmont, MA; sister and brother-in-law Katherine Brabham and Harry Dalton of Rock Hill, SC; sister and brother-in-law Jan and Lee Holloway of Columbia; sister and brother-in-law Judy and Bob Greiner of Atlanta; and brother William Brunot of California; as well as numerous much-loved nieces and nephews.

One of Ellen's favorite sayings came from Shirley Horn's version of the song "Here's to Life”: “here's to life, here's to love, here’s to you.” Ellen lived that thought.

The family thanks the medical staff and particularly the nurses at Prisma Richland Hospital for their skilled and compassionate support of Ellen during her illness.

In lieu of flowers, Ellen preferred that memorials be sent to the Rosary Altar Society at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 2229 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29204-1813.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com