Eleanor Jean Peckham was born March 27, 1926 in Oklahoma City to Frederick Holland Peckham and Nellie Laura James. She was the youngest of five children. After high school she briefly worked at John A Brown and Magnolia Oil. Ellen soon met the love of her life, Merle "Gene" Whitehead, and married him just weeks later on January 22, 1949. They had two sons, Gene and Gary. As a family they loved to play golf, and were members at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club for many years. Ellen was a caregiver for her mother, mother-in-law, and a disabled sister, and she continued caring for friends and family throughout her life. After the kids were grown, she and Gene traveled with friends and played golf across the country, and even went to Scotland & England to play. They celebrated a wonderful 50th anniversary in 1999. After Gene's death, she tutored children @ Coronado Elementary, and helped with Meals on Wheels. An independent woman, she'd recently moved to the Statesman independent retirement community, and had made many new friends. She loved the social life there, and took great comfort in the weekly Bible study, especially when she was unable to attend church at Chapel Hill. Ellen was preceded in death by her husband Gene Whitehead, and her son Gary joined her in heaven 6 days later. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Denise Whitehead, grandchildren Jesse Hull Whitehead and wife Jamie, Julie Ann Warren and husband Marlin, and Andrew Garrett Whitehead and wife Megan. She had four great grandchildren, Reagan Leath Whitehead, Jack Farris Whitehead, Dalton Vance Warren, and Andrew Walker Whitehead. Ellen is also survived by a close nephew, John Whitehead. Memorial donations may be made to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 25th at 2pm at Chapel Hill. Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.
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