Eleanor Thorp Owen

Eleanor Thorp Owen passed away on June 8, 2026. Born in Manteno, Illinois, Eleanor grew up in South Woodbury, Vermont. This rural setting and coming of age during the great depression helped shape her view of the world.

Eleanor attended Lyndon Normal School for teachers. She met and married Francis “Pat” Owen in 1950. They lived briefly in Bennington, VT before moving to Arlington, VT in 1961, where she quickly became involved in her community, with a special love for the library as reading was, and continued to be, a crucial part of her life. Eleanor gifted this love of reading to her two sons.

Eleanor was also deeply involved in the East Arlington Federated Church, with her faith and following of the teachings of Jesus Christ giving her strength throughout her life. She helped establish the first kindergarten in Arlington, which translated into more than two decades of teaching kindergarten and third grade at Fisher Elementary School, before her retirement in 1988.

After Pat’s death in 1988, Eleanor moved to Snohomish, WA to be closer to her beloved granddaughters, where she remained an integral part of their lives until her passing. Eleanor continued to be active in the church and her community, with special involvement in the senior center. She also took on the pleasant task of traveling as much of the world as possible, with camel rides in Egypt, walking on the Great Wall of China, and passing through the Panama Canal just a few of her many adventures. She moved to Everett, WA in 2018.

Eleanor is survived by her sister Ruby of Roseville, CA; sons Lee of Willis, Va, and Kelly of Snoqualmie, WA; daughter-in-law Christie Isler of Snoqualmie, WA; granddaughters Elizabeth and Rebecca of Clatskanie, OR; granddaughter Acadia of Snoqualmie, and many nieces and nephews. It could be counted on by everyone in the family that they would be remembered with a card from Eleanor on their birthday, holiday, or other special occasion.

She was predeceased by her husband Francis, brother Donald of Honeoye Falls, NY, and sister Juanita of Laramie, WY.

A memorial service is being held at Bauer Funeral Chapel of Snohomish, WA on Wednesday, June 17. Burial of her ashes will take place at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery in Arlington, VT.