Eleanor Ruth (McGraw) Homewood

Eleanor Ruth (McGraw) Homewood

Lamont

Eleanor Ruth (McGraw) Homewood, 92, passed away on July 7, 2024, at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 A.M. Friday, July 12, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Church, Masonville, Reverend Gabriel Anderson officiating.

Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Thursday, July 11, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Hall in Winthrop, Iowa with a rosary at 4:00 P.M. and from 8:45 to 9:45 A.M. July 12, 2024, at Fawcett-Schmitz Funeral Home in Winthrop, Iowa.

Interment: St. Mary’s Cemetery in Masonville, Iowa.

In leu of flowers memorials may be directed to East Buchanan Funds for the Future, Cedar Valley Hospice, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Eleanor Ruth was born in Iowa City, Iowa on July 6th, 1932, the daughter of Sarah Cole and Paul Alexander. She was adopted from the Annie Whitmeyer Home in Davenport, Iowa in December 1933 by Edgar Albert and Ruth Lucille (Deuel) Tennis and was raised by them in Lamont, Iowa. She was a 1949 graduate of Lamont High School. On July 18, 1949, she was united in marriage to Philip Theodore (Ted) McGraw in Masonville. They lived on a farm near Masonville, where they raised their 8 children until 1981 when they moved to Lamont. Ted preceded her in death in 1993. On December 31st, 1993, she was united in marriage to William (Bill) Riley at St. Mary's Church in Lamont. They made their home in Lamont until his death in 2009. In November of 2017 she was united in marriage to Roger Homewood at IC Church in Masonville. They enjoyed their time spent together until his death in April of 2024.

Eleanor served as Mayor of Lamont for 6 years and made it her goal to improve the services of the city so that young people would want to live in the hometown she treasured. Eleanor was editor and owner of the Lamont Leader from 1977 through 1997. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Masonville and a member of its Rosary Society. She served as past president of the Lamont Community Club, the Lamont Development Commission, a yearbook advisor at Starmont High School, school bus driver for many years at Starmont Community Schools, past choir director at St. Mary's Church in Lamont and Immaculate Conception in Masonville and one of the founders of the Starmont Dollars for Scholars as well as a member of various card clubs and the Legion Auxiliary.

Survivors include Randy (Gery Thomas) McGraw of Glenview, Illinois, Julie (Joni) McGraw of Winthrop, Robin (best friend Ken) McGraw of Neosho, Wisconsin, Rusty (Carmon) McGraw of Quasqueton, Rick (Krista) McGraw of Lamont, Jill (Les) Mulford of Winthrop, Joy (Brian) Long of Robins and Rod (Paula) McGraw, Winthrop; 28 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren and one Great Grandchild on the way. She is also survived by 1 brother Keith (Linda) Tennis; sister-in-law Charlotte Tennis, a half sister Mary (Russ) Bartels and 12 stepchildren.

Preceding her in death were her three husbands, infant daughter True Marie McGraw, Granddaughter Molly Mulford, Great Grandson Royce Philip Sutton, sister Alice Heim and all of her parents and step siblings June Ronnefelt, Laura Dundee, Tootsie Bennett, Earl Alexander, and Kenny Alexander.