Eleanor Smith

Eleanor Gayle (Rothenberger), Smith of Conway, Arkansas, passed away May 29,2023at Superior Health and Rehab, Conway, Arkansas.
Eleanor was born March 10, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of James H. and Ruth (Carrithers) Rothenberger. She married Hibbard (Hib) Ashton Smith in Minneapolis at St. Marks's Episcopal Cathedral and were married 43 years until his death on February 2, 1990.
Eleanor graduated from West High School, Minneapolis Minnesota and proceeded to the University of Minnesota, majoring and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree (split major) in Journalism, Anthropology and Honors English in January 1946. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, a student member of Theta Sigma Pi, and a legacy of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Eleanor and Hibbard raised two children and one of the founding families of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, Tulsa, OK. Eleanor, in her own words was a professed "professional volunteer for the Episcopal Church"; her instrumental work with the Church's, Women of Vision endorsed women's lay and clergy ministries, embraced ordination of women and served in numerous leadership roles which included the President of the Diocese of Oklahoma's Episcopal Church Women (ECW). Eleanor traveled extensively for the National Episcopal Church, promoting a variety of the Church's multifaceted women's ministries. Passion for the Church's women's histories, she ensured Episcopal women were not forgotten with her significant contributions to the Episcopal Women's History Project, "Herstories". Eleanor was known for her "doodles" and humor, lent her artistic hand to National Church liturgical and women's issues through artwork and journalism. As a regular contributor to the ECW Communique Magazine, served as the Art Editor of the Journal of Women's Ministries, a journalistic and artist contributor to the "Stories From The Circle", a book by women for women, The Episcopal Altar Guild Calendar, in addition to a variety of other church periodicals. She served on altar guild teams and was a lay reader at her home parishes. Eleanor was a longtime member of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross (SCHC) and performed in an acting troupe known as Women of the Bible, she portrayed and gave a woman's voice to Mrs. Noah. Additionally, she served on St. Simeon's Episcopal Home Auxiliary and President from 1978-79. Eleanor was involved in philanthropic organizations, a 76-year member (inducted in 1945) of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a PEO "Golden" member, contributed 60 years of service in the PEO sisterhood, Eleanor was active in chapters EC, Tulsa, OK; CF, Indianapolis, IN and CA, Conway, AR. Eleanor was active in the Tulsa, OK chapter of the English-Speaking Union; volunteered with Assistance League-Tulsa and Tulsa Psychiatric Center, and was a Delta Gamma sorority housemother at the Tulsa University. Eleanor was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Conway AR.
She is survived by 2 children: Christiane L. Smith, Conway, Arkansas; Charles F.A. Smith, and his wife Katherine (Ferriani) Smith, Carmel, Indiana and niece Jane M. Rothenberger, Havana, Florida, 3 grandchildren: Eirin J. Lewis, Denver, Colorado; Colin A. Smith and Austin C. Smith of Carmel, Indiana, respectively.

Service will be Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 2:00pm at the Trinity Episcopal in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother, nephew, aunts and uncles; and husband Hibbard A. Smith.