Eloise C. Whittles, 95 of Las Cruces died Thursday June 29, 2006 at La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice. She was born June 2, 1911 near Canton, Illinois to Lewis and Ella McLean Trites. Eloise and her husband, Leonard C. Whittles, moved to Claunch, NM in 1937 from Minnesota to minister three Presbyterian churches and 13 Sunday schools in the area. During WWII, her husband joined the United States Army and they moved to California. During the time her husband was away fighting in WWII, Eloise worked with the Red Cross. They returned to New Mexico in 1951 and a few years later made Las Cruces their home. Eloise taught school for over 30 years and retired from East Picacho Elementary at the age of 66. She then traveled the world, took up china painting, and read books voraciously. When she was 89 she took writing classes and wrote and published her own book, The Memoirs of Eloise Whittles. Eloise was "such a lady", beautiful, graceful, gracious, a loving mother, "Grammy", mother-in-law, and friend. She gave of herself to many organizations, the First United Presbyterian Church, the PEO Sisterhood and the N.M.Retired Teachers Assn. She loved going out for meals with her family, nature walks and bird watching, and china painting. She was always positive and saw the beauty and goodness in everything. She is survived by her two daughters and their spouses, Miriam and Ben Salazar of Phoenix, AZ, and Sally and Robert Kosnick and her two grandchildren Ryan and Jenni Kosnick all of Las Cruces, NM. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Eleanor Trites of Battle Lake, MN and Ieleen Trites of Dent, MN and by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Leonard C. Whittles, two brothers Bruce and Carl Trites, and sister Leah Haas. A memorial service will be held Thursday July 6, 2006 at 2:00 PM at the Getz Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Norm Story of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. The family wants to thank everyone at Good Samaritan Village where Eloise resided from 1989 until two months ago, at which time she went to La Posada, Mesilla Valley Hospice. We want to thank the very special staff there who helped us give Eloise a wonderful 95th birthday party on June 2, 2006 and for the tender loving care they gave her. She died very peacefully. Also her wonderful doctors, Dr. Greg Johnson and Dr. Patricia Andrews and their staff who cared for her, visited her and helped our family so much during her last years. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made in Eloise's name to: Maine Presbyterian Church in care of Ieleen Trites 33315 Hwy 35 Dent Minnesota 56528. PDF Printable Version
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