Volunteer served art museum, opera

7/15/2005

Eleanor C. Davies, 85, a supporter of Toledo cultural and community activities, especially the Toledo Museum of Art, died Wednesday in the Flower Hospital rehabilitation center.

She'd been in poor health in recent months and had a stroke last week, her daughter-in-law, Sally Davies, said.

Mrs. Davies of Ottawa Hills was a museum aide and a member of the museum's art travel committee.

She also had served on the boards of the YWCA and the Toledo Opera Club.

She had been a member of the Junior League of Greater Toledo and the Ottawa Hills Garden Club. She also was a former president of the Committee on Relations with Toledo, Spain.

Accomplished in handwork, she made a needlepoint cushion depicting the emblem of the first printer in Toledo, Spain. The cushion was donated to the Ward Canaday Center at the University of Toledo Carlson Library.

"She believed strongly in a wonderful community and quality of life," her daughter-in-law said. "She believed people needed to volunteer and give back to their communities and support those cultural entities in the community that give us that quality of life."

Mrs. Davies was a homemaker. She was married to Robert H. Davies, who was an executive with the former Electric Auto-Lite Co., Sangamo Electric Co., and Owens-Illinois Inc.

When he had guests to the family home for business reasons, she helped entertain and was the hostess. She was able to accompany her husband on business trips to Europe and Asia, and she enjoyed that, her daughter-in-law said.

Mr. Davies died May 15, 1984.

Mrs. Davies grew up in Santa Ana, Calif., and attended two years of junior college. After marriage, her husband's corporate career took the family to Cleveland and Buchanan, Mich., before they settled in Toledo in 1959.

She liked to garden and read and belonged to a book club in Ottawa Hills.

"She was a strong proponent of good physical health and exercise," her daughter-in-law said.

She kept up on current affairs and enjoyed a good debate.

"She was a woman of strong convictions and strong faith," her daughter-in-law said. "She was an extremely well-read, cultured woman."

Mrs. Davies was a member of Carranor Hunt & Polo Club and the Toledo Club.

Surviving are her two granddaughters.

There will be no visitation. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Michael's in the Hills Episcopal Church, of which she was a member. Arrangements are by the J. Jeffrey Fretti Funeral Home.

The family suggests tributes to the Toledo Museum of Art or the church.