BEDFORD, Va. - Eleanor Johnson Messick, of Bedford, Va. (formerly of Georgetown) passed peacefully away at her home on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Lewes on Mar. 5, 1929 to the late Floyd and Ethel Johnson. She spent most of her life in Georgetown, attended Georgetown High School and worked as a telephone operator for the Diamond State Telephone Company. The last five years of her career prior to retirement were spent with AT&T in Salisbury, Md. She retired in 1988 after 30 years of service. Eleanor was passionate about animals and their care and volunteered with the Sussex County SPCA in the early years of formation. Frank Sinatra was her favorite singer and Eleanor spent many nights listening to his music. In 1997, Eleanor and her husband moved to Bedford, Va. to be near her daughter and family who lived at Smith Mountain Lake. She enjoyed time spent with her family and especially spending time with her great-grandchildren playing games such as checkers.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her infant son, William Lloyd Willey; step son, Darrell Messick; loving brothers, Floyd Martin Johnson, Jr. and Walter Layton Johnson; and her beloved collie, Jake. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, P. Todd Messick of Bedford, Va.; her daughter, Pat (Willey) Moore and husband Bob of Huddleston, Va.; step son, Mark McDonough and wife Judy of San Diego, Calif.; her granddaughter, Kim Alderman and husband Scott of Clemmons, N.C.; her two great–grandchildren, whom she adored, Brett and Taylor Alderman of Clemmons, N.C.; and step grandchildren, Clair, Christian, and Joseph. She adored her many nieces and nephews, her special cousin and friend, Mary Rogers of Georgetown; and family friend, Sylvia Croom of Bedford, Va. She also leaves behind, her beloved cat, Molly.
A special thanks to Centra Hospice of Bedford and Lynchburg, Va., who assisted the family and Eleanor during her transition time. The funeral will be held Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at 12 p.m. in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 609 E Market Street, Georgetown, officiated by Reverend Maleia Rust. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Centra Hospice at 2097 Langhorne Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501 or the Sussex Co SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd, Georgetown, DE 19947.