Eleanor Steele Aker

Eleanor Lorraine Steele Aker, 87, of Raleigh, North Carolina, formerly of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away at 2:20am on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Born March 22, 1927, in Roanoke, Virginia, and an only child, she was predeceased by her parents, Eugene Herbin and Blanche Watts Steele of Roanoke, Virginia; her loving husband of 42 years, Kenneth Stuart Aker, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and numerous loved furry canine family members (Corky, Brenda, Blackie, Kip, Sugar, Honey, Holly, Brandy and Sonny Aker).

Family, church, music and bowling were main themes throughout Eleanor’s life. She loved music and learned to tickle the ivories as a teenager in Roanoke, Virginia. After marrying Stuart and moving from Roanoke to Raleigh in 1968, the family joined Crabtree Valley Baptist Church where she remained a devoted member and organist playing beautiful music for 42 years. Her love of music led her to play at many special events and for various funeral homes throughout the years. She also loved family gatherings at Christmas, going to the beach, fishing and had a prized collection of gnomes.

In 2013 and at the age of 86, Eleanor received the “Old North State Award” upon retiring from the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals after 40 years of dedicated service. She then moved to a retirement community where she became the “Belle of the Ball”. Eleanor lived her life in retirement the way she lived the rest of her life – full of kind-heartedness, energy and spunk.

As wife, mother, grandmother, friend, or co-worker, Eleanor was an inspiration to many and left her mark on those who she touched in life. Her loving family and those to whom she meant so much to will miss her dearly. Eleanor, “Our joys will be greater, Our love will be deeper, Our lives will be fuller, Because we shared your moment”.

Eleanor is survived by 3 children; daughter Phyllis and husband Joseph Goodwin of Apex, North Carolina, son Melvin and wife Carol Weidner of New York, son Kevin and wife Jessica Weidner of Raleigh, North Carolina; 5 grandchildren, Paige Elliott, Kim Roberts, Casey Barnes Weidner, Jonathan Steele Weidner and Avery Jackson Steele Weidner.

A “Celebration of Life” Service will be held at 2pm, Saturday, July 12th, at Crabtree Valley Baptist Church in Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Crabtree Valley Baptist Church Ministry of Music, PO Box 30954, Raleigh, NC 27622.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s St. ,Raleigh, NC. Condolences may be made through brownwynne.com.