Eleanor (Grant) Marsh passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ at the age of 91, on September 9th, 2023, at her home in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Eleanor was born in Illinois in 1931, the firstborn of William T. Grant and Frances J. Grant. She had one younger sister, Marian Blake (who shortly preceded her in death) and one younger brother, Billy Grant (still living).

Eleanor was a precocious child, inquisitive and lively. Growing up during the Great Depression taught her to be resourceful and thrifty. Always looking for a bargain, these are skills she utilized all throughout her life.

 After graduating from high school she worked as a cruise ship hostess on the Great Lakes, and then attended Wheaton College where she graduated with her degree in Elementary Education. It was during this time that she also met a young soldier who had just returned from the Korean War. At a roller skating party, Donald G. Marsh skated up and asked to take her hand. They married in 1954 and enjoyed 69 years of marriage together. 

Don and Eleanor had five children: Linda and Susan were born in Illinois. They moved to Southern California around 1959 where David, Douglas, and Laurie were born.

Her life was full with training, teaching and transporting their children to music and swim lessons, summer school and church activities. Always a teacher at heart, she believed that more is “caught than taught".  As granddaughter Christi said, “Thank you for teaching us how to eat healthy, take our vitamins, speak proper English, garden and grow our food, dress with style, memorize the Bible, sing hymns, and to value traditions and family”.

In December of 1974 Eleanor, together with her husband and family, moved to Copper Center, Alaska. There she taught school in a Christian community for seven years. Moving to Delta Junction in 1981, they bought 80 acres of agricultural land and built two homes, using one as a rental. 

Eleanor loved gardening, raising and selling tomatoes from her greenhouse, and developing her perennial beds. During this time she worked for ALPA (Adult Learning Programs of Alaska) tutoring foreign students and teaching English as a second language to many. She was also involved with one of the local private Christian schools, and taught creative writing to the 7th & 8th graders. When given the opportunity, she and Don traveled to Taiwan as missionaries and taught English abroad for several months. Eleanor was not just a teacher by trade but it was a part of her nature. One student even named their firstborn after her!

As the years passed and hay farming and gardening felt more strenuous, Eleanor and Don moved to Fairbanks. They were also grateful that part of their family was in Fairbanks as well.   They enjoyed membership at the First Presbyterian Church as well as involvement in Bible Study Fellowship.

Throughout life Eleanor’s greatest love was for the Lord Jesus Christ. In every difficulty and sorrow, her heart  turned to find Him. She taught us by example how to forgive, and naturally shared her faith with others because it was such a big part of her life. She was gracious, brilliant, witty, highly verbal, strong and not easily intimidated.

Her children married and she became a grandmother to 16 grandchildren and a great grandmother to many.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her son Douglas (1991) and son in laws Nick Jennings (1990) and Joseph Brooks (2016), both formerly married to daughter Susan, as well as first grandchild Michael Jennings, Nick and Susan’s first (1978).

Eleanor is survived by her husband Donald and their four remaining children and spouses: Linda and (Prins) Samuel, Susan Brooks, David and (Dixie) Marsh, Laurie and (Ken) Wilson. Local Grandchildren: Christi Jennings married to Jackson Cole,Lisa Jennings married to Aaron Baranoski, Laura Jennings married to Jared Medina; Andrew Samuel married to Sarah Lambert Samuel; Phillip, Grant, and Julia Wilson; and eight grandchildren with David’s former wife, Robin Marsh: Jonathan and (Terye) Marsh, Grace and (Zach) Green, Thomas and (Selina) Marsh, Annie and (Drew) Shannon, Joshua Marsh, Sarah and (Josh) Burg, Peter Marsh, Lizzie and (Jacob) Griffin.  Local great-grandchildren: Olivia, Kerris and Jenna Cole; Corin, Sierra, Kendra and Aiden Baranoski; Roman, Annabell and Zachary Samuel.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Fairbanks, Foundation Health Partners, and all the care workers and local agencies who cared for our mother over the years. Your labor was very appreciated, not only by Eleanor, but by the entire family. 

In lieu of flowers, and in memory of Eleanor’s love of gardening, a fund has been started to establish a memorial garden in her honor. 

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