Eleanor Proctor

Eleanor Mae Greninger Proctor passed away after a short illness on September 28, 2015, at Northcare Hospice. She was born in Joplin, Missouri on Flag Day, June 14, 1924, to Al and Ethel Greninger, and she was the fourth of ten children. Eleanor was always what she called the “puny” one, but she survived a bout of meningitis in her teen years, a series of cancers as an adult, and two broken legs. The doctors agreed that she never followed the rules; resilience and good humor marked her attitude toward life. Her favorite things were her faith, her family, her friends, and her sports.

Eleanor graduated from Joplin High School in 1942 and just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Eleanor met her future husband, Archie “Gene” Proctor at a dance hall. They dated briefly before he left to serve in the U.S. Army in the Pacific in 1942 and corresponded the whole time he was away. Eleanor and Gene married on October 23, 1945. The couple moved to Kansas City in the late 1940s where they raised five children.

Eleanor worked in a variety of occupations during her life. She ran a drill press at Pratt & Whitney airplane plant during World War II, worked in a bakery and a photography studio, sold Avon and Tupperware. For most of her career, she was employed in the school cafeterias of the North Kansas City School District, specifically Maple Park Middle School. After retirement in 1993, Eleanor spent time traveling the country, even visiting Alaska and Hawaii. She also organized and ran a “Senior Singles” group that lasted a quarter century. A lifelong Presbyterian, Eleanor loved her church family at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church, and she was an active member there in church activities and bible study. With her sporty hats and color-coordinated outfits (including her nails and her jewelry), she was well-known in the church community. A former Cubmistress and Girl Scout leader, Eleanor had a way of making life fun for those around her. This was never more true than when she watched her beloved sports teams play – the Kansas City Royals, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Missouri Tigers. With her assorted sports memorabilia, she was a walking decoration for whatever sport was in season!

She was predeceased by her husband Gene, who died in 1985, and by six of her siblings. Eleanor is survived by her five children: Carole J. McGuire (Rex) of Pleasant Valley, MO; Gayla Rich (Rob) of Bothell, WA; Dennis Proctor (Anne) of Nicholasville, KY; Don Proctor (Suzy) of Kansas City, MO; and Tammy Proctor (Todd Shirley) of Providence, UT. She is also survived by her 11 beloved grandchildren: Matthew McGuire (Kim), Mindi Crane (Kyle), Joanie Rich, Marcie Rich, Jason Rich, Katie Calderon(Jesse), Lacy Wise, Devin Proctor, Rachael Proctor, Savannah Proctor, Spencer Proctor, and 6 wonderful great-grandchildren: Kirstyn, Sloane, Grace, Abrielle, McKinlee, and Jace. She is also survived by three siblings: John Greninger, Tillie Taylor, and Harry Greninger as well as a large extended family and many dear friends.

Please consider making a donation in Eleanor’s memory to the Northcare Hospice (2800 Clay Edwards Dr., North Kansas City, MO 64116) or to the scholarship fund named after Eleanor’s mother at Missouri Southern State University, the Ethel A. Greninger Scholarship (send to the Missouri Southern Foundation, 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801).

Funeral services for Eleanor are scheduled at 10:00 AM Friday, October 2nd at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church; burial will follow in White Chapel Cemetery, Gladstone, MO. Visitation is from 5-8 PM Thursday at the McGilley Antioch Chapel, Kansas City, MO.