Eleanor Vesey Eggers

Eleanor Vesey Eggers, PhD, 102, peacefully passed away in her home on July 14, 2023. She was born on May 18, 1921, to Lela Rich and David Vesey in Fort Wayne, Indiana and graduated from South Side High School as salutatorian of her class. She was very active in extracurricular activities, served as general manager of the high school newspaper, and was elected to membership in the National Honor Society, placing second in the state Latin contest.

Dr. Eggers earned three degrees from the University of Chicago: a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in sociology and a Doctor of Philosophy in psychology. She was awarded scholarships for her undergraduate work and fellowships for her graduate work. She worked as a sociologist for the federal government at the Village of Greendale, Wisconsin, and the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in Berkeley, California, and as a psychologist at the Athens State Hospital in Ohio. In private practice as a psychologist for many years, she maintained offices in Athens, Ohio, and Prairie Village, Kansas.

She lived in many places throughout the world including Samoa, Hawaii, France, Switzerland, and England. During World War II, Oscar (Ozzie) served in the army and was stationed in a number of locations before he was shipped off to the Pacific. She followed him to his many assignments in the United States, moving fourteen times in two years.

Dr. Eggers served as chair of Citizens to Save the Park in Prairie Village from 1985-1989 and the group was successful in preventing the private development of a four-acre plot of land adjacent to Harmon Park. They influenced the city to purchase the land and assisted in establishing it as Santa Fe Trail Park. In 1994 she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the City of Prairie Village for these efforts.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, July 31, 2023 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the Lindenwood Historic Cemetery along with five generations of Veseys. Dr Eggers will be buried next to her husband and high school sweetheart, Dr Oscar Eggers, who died on New Year’s Eve, 2002. Also interred there are their three prematurely born babies, David Frederick (1945), Virginia Ruth (1947), and Beth Elaine (1960) as well as their son Thomas Ray Eggers (2020). Dr Eggers is survived by her niece, Susan Woolery Shields, and her nephew, William Crasher Woolery and several great- and great-great nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Prairie Village Municipal Foundation.