Mildred Eleanor Fairbanks, daughter of Steward J. and Kathryn Strike Fairbanks, was born July 23, 1919, at Waterloo, Iowa. She graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1937, and later attended Gates Business College in Waterloo. She went on to graduate from the University of Iowa with a B.A. degree in journalism.
In the 1940’s and 1950’s, Eleanor was associated with advertising agencies in Chicago and the H.L. Hunt Oil Co. in Dallas, Texas. She returned to Waterloo in 1956, ands was a district advisor to the Girl Scouts of America, retiring in 1971. In 1972, she moved to Dallas, and worked in sales and distribution for a pottery manufacturing firm. She returned to Iowa in 2002, and moved to the Sumner Senior Citizen Housing. In June of 2006, she entered the Hillcrest Home in Sumner where her death occurred early Thursday morning, June 9, 2011. She was 91 years old.
Eleanor is survived by her brother, William (Marjorie) Fairbanks of Sumner.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Wendell Roger Fairbanks, who died in infancy.
A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Waterloo. Friends may, if they wish, make memorial donations to the Cedar Valley Hospice, 207 20th St. N.W., Waverly, IA 50677.
Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner is in charge of arrangements.
