ANGOLA, Ind. — Elinor “Ellie” Ruth Owens Sutton, age 82, of Angola, Ind., passed away Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at Lakeland Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Angola, Ind.
She was born May 22, 1930, in Angola, Ind., to Ronald Richard and Winifred (Cheney) Owens.
She graduated from Angola High School in 1948. One of her deep interests was music, and she was a piano student of Miriam Brokaw. After high School, she attended Purdue University receiving a degree with highest honors in institutional management. After graduation, she worked for a year as a dietitian in one of the men’s residence halls at Purdue.
On June 13, 1953, she married Ronald Dean Sutton in the First Congregational Church in Angola then moved to Niagara Falls, N.Y. In 1966, the family moved to Ashtabula, Ohio. Ellie continued her education earning a Master’s degree in education from Buffalo State Teachers College, an Educational Specialists degree from Kent State University and a Doctorate in Education from the International Graduate School.
She taught fifth grade at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Elementary School in Ashtabula, Ohio and was a guidance counselor at Columbus Junior High School and the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational High School.
She was a member of the Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes, Angola, Ind.; Psiota XI; Steuben County Women’s Club; Zonta International of Ashtabula, Ohio; AAUW of Ashtabula, Ohio and The Tourists Book Club of Ashtabula, Ohio. She was an avid gourmet cook, gardener and reader. She loved to travel and retirement offered an opportunity for trips to France, Italy and Ireland. After being away for 50 years, she and Dean returned to Angola.
Her love of children and dedication to her profession and family made her an exceptional “super mom”, wife, educator, counselor and an inspiration not only to her family but to anyone she met. She was tremendously admired and will be greatly missed.
Ellie is survived by her husband, Ronald Dean Sutton of Angola, Ind.; her son, Ronald Dean Sutton Jr. of Sharon Township, Ohio; her daughter and son-in-law, Jeannie and Richard Hamm of Wayzata, Minn.; two sisters, Margaret (Dick) Andres of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Elizabeth (Jerry) Wittwer of Plainwell, Mich.; and five grandchildren, Eric Hamm, Katie Hamm, Alex Hamm, Ronald Sutton and Elyse Sutton.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
A Memorial Service will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, March 2nd, at WEICHT FUNERAL HOME, Angola, Ind., with the Rev. Thomas E. Smith officiating. Visitation will be from 12 Noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, prior to the Service.
Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes, Angola, Ind. or to Cameron Home Health and Hospice, Angola, Ind.
You may sign the guestbook at www.weichtfh.com and starbeacon.com.
