Eleanor A. McKillip

Born in Ellenburg Center on Aug. 15, 1914, she was the daughter of George and Mary (Harris) Atkinson.

Eleanor graduated from Bloomingdale Union High School in 1932 and received her teaching degree in 1935 from Plattsburgh State Normal School. She started her teaching career in the then-rural three-room Lake Colby School. Later she was employed as a second-grade elementary teacher in the Saranac Lake Central School District, retiring in 1975.

Eleanor was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, Donald J. McKillip, on April 10, 1994, her daughter Elizabeth A. Baker on Nov. 21, 2013, her sister Grace L. Brewster on June 30, 2013, and her brother Capt. William J. Atkinson in 1993.

Eleanor was a member of the National Educators Association, the New York State Retired Teachers Association, a 50 member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, past member of the “Over 55” Clubs in Bloomingdale and Vermontville, a past member of the Saranac Lake Golf Club. At the age of 92 she bowled a 240 at Romano’s Saranac Lake Lanes. She was a member of the ARRA — American Rosie the Riveter Association — as a result of her employment during World War II at the Pratt & Whitney factory in East Hartford, Connecticut, working on gears for British war planes.

Survivors include one daughter, Margaret M. Kelly and her husband Kerry of Saranac Lake; three sons: Philip P. McKillip and his fiancee Shirley Reich of Port Orange, Florida, Michael J. McKillip and his wife Karry Ann of Saranac Lake, and James D. McKillip and his wife Nancy of Latham; a son-in-law, Julian William Ruffin of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; grandchildren: Jeremy Henderson, Ryan McKillip, Erin Horton, Tynan McKillip, Connor Kelly and his wife Jessica, Shannon Shaheen and her husband Justin, Matthew McKillip and his wife Emily, and Laura McKillip; and four great-grandchildren: Blake, Breckin, Forrest and Olivia.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, 20 Church St., Saranac Lake. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Paul’s Oratory in Bloomingdale on Friday, May 15 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Burial will immediately follow in St. Bernard’s Cemetery.

Family and friends wishing to remember Eleanor A. McKillip may make memorial contributions to St. Paul’s Oratory, Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department or the Tri-Lakes Humane Society in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guest book at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.