Mrs. Elenor Marion Zepeda

Services will be held at 3pm Friday, November 5 at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home in Colleyville, TX officiated by a dear friend, Father George Henninger. Visitation: 5:00pm-7:00pm, Thursday, November 4 also at Bluebonnet Hills. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the American Brain Tumor Association or a charity of choice.

Elenor was born to Ronald and Jeannette (Lyon) Larson in September of 1935, in San Antonio, Texas. The oldest of four, she was affectionately known as “Wawa” to her younger brothers while growing up in Kansas City, MO.

Following her graduation from North Kansas City High School where Elenor made life-long friends, she applied her natural artistic talents and precise attention to detail working as a cartographer which undoubtedly influenced her love of travel. Her career path eventually led to working with the Army Corps of Engineers as a hydraulic engineer. Some of her notable projects were Lake Amistad and Lake Ray Roberts. While there, she met her future husband, Rudy. Elenor and Rudy combined their respective families – “his, mine, and ours” – and settled in North Richland Hills which was the home base of countless family gatherings. After retiring from the Corps, Elenor began taking continuing ed art and water aerobics classes at NE TCCC and eventually began teaching the classes. She and Rudy were also active volunteers at the Meacham Field Vintage Flying Museum for several years.

Following her almost 50-year marriage to Rudy when he passed in 2014, Elenor moved into a cottage at St. Joseph’s Retirement village in Coppell where she quickly immersed herself into a multitude of social activities, some of which were as a percussionist with the St Joe’s Strummer’s band, lectern, water aerobics instructor, and happy hour wine-hostess. She also volunteered as a story-reader for Carrollton Elementary School and bread-runner for the North Texas food pantry. Among her many hobbies and interests, Elenor was an accomplished painter, formidable Scrabble player and a regular at the Carrollton Center Dance Society.

During her retirement, Elenor traveled extensively with Rudy in their RV from the East Coast to the West Coast, sometimes taking grandkids along, other times meeting friends. One of their favorite destinations was South Fork, Colorado. She also enjoyed multiple trips to Mexico and Europe with family. Her most recent memorable trip was a trip to Ireland with her daughters and brothers.

Throughout her life, Elenor had a persistent positive outlook on life and spread joy and light to all those she met. She had a self-effacing personality and witty sense of humor. She never imposed her advice or opinions on others, but when asked, had the rare gift of being able to say just the right thing with gentle honesty, respect, and empathy.

Her greatest gift was unconditionally loving her family and teaching them to love and respect others. She was a matriarch that taught us all to never miss an opportunity to celebrate life. She helped spearhead and plan several large family reunions bringing together family members from east to west coast.

Elenor was a devoted “Mamaw” who cherished her time with her grandkids -- often taking them to museums, the zoo, or waterparks, and cheering them on at sporting events and band concerts.

The family is grateful to the residents and staff at St Joseph’s Village who befriended Elenor during her years there, but especially for the outpouring of love and support during her recent illness.

Cherishing her memory, she is survived by her children, Rudy (Kathy), Melanie (Tom), Richard (Sheri), Alison, Donna, Jo (Mark); brothers Nels (Anne); Jeffry (Jean), Eric (Linda); grandchildren, Shane (Brittany), Jessica, Jared (Jennifer), Adam (Michelle), Sam (Dana), Natalie, Daniel, Marie (Michael), Garrett (Ally), Aaron (Katie); great-grandchildren, Kayden, Bentley, Violet, Jayden, Anthony, and Hudson; and many extended family and beloved friends.