Eleanor Ruth Compton

Mrs. Eleanor Ruth Compton, 86, of Ellicott City, Maryland, passed away on October 31, 2017, after a long illness.

Mrs. Compton was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Raymond and Ruth Howell. After graduating from The Katherine Gibbs School in Boston, she worked at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for Professor Tucker, who taught a class in Thermodynamics. An engineering student, Roger Compton, would visit his Thermodynamics Professor’s office to get to know the woman who would become his wife of almost 61 years.

Eleanor followed Roger’s career to Detroit, Michigan, where she worked as a Secretary in the Plymouth/Dodge Division of The Chrysler Corporation, then on to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a Legal Secretary/Assistant at several Washington law firms. She was an avid reader and loved to travel. They lived part-time in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and Bandon Beach, Oregon, until Sarasota, Florida, became their permanent retirement home for over 20 years.

A beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Eleanor leaves behind her four children – Gary (Nancy) Compton of Frederick, Maryland; Roger Compton of Alexandria, Virginia; Cathy (Walter) Strycharz of Ellicott City, Maryland, and Paul (Rebecca) Compton of South Riding, Virginia - four Grandchildren, and two Great-Grandchildren.

The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date. A memorial donation may be made in Eleanor’s name to Gilchrist Hospice, 11311 McCormick Road, Suite 350, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031.