Eleanor Brunner

Eleanor Floyd Brunner died on Friday, April 2, 2021 at home, with her hands being lovingly help by her daughter-in-law, Molly, and her wonderful caregiver, Weronika. Ellie was born August 8, 1923 in Struthers, Ohio, the daughter of H.S. Floyd and Flavia Dunston Floyd. She lived most of her childhood on their family farm outside of London, Ohio. Ellie graduated from The Ohio State University in 1946. While at OSU, she was the first woman editor of the yearbook, called The Makio, in 1944. In addition, she was a member of Chimes, Junior Woman’s Honorary and Mortar Board, the Senior Women’s Honorary, along with being the President of her sorority, Alpha Phi. After graduating from college, she went to New York City and became the Private Secretary to Lilly Dache, a famous milliner in the 1940’s and 50’s. In 1947 Ellie married James A. Brunner, who for over 40 years was a Professor of Marketing at the University of Toledo. They celebrated almost 60 years of a warm and loving marriage until his death in 2007. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim, and her son, James Mark Brunner. Ellie was very active in the community. She especially enjoyed participating at the Epworth Methodist Church, the Corey Woods Garden Club and the Faculty Wives Book Club. She earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science at UT and was a member of Phi Kappa Alpha. Another long-standing passion of hers was the Toledo Museum of Art where she served as a Docent and a Museum Aide for many years. Ellie also had an intense interest in reading and helped start the Junior Great Books Club in the Sylvania School system. Ellie is survived by her sons, Jack (and his children Dave, Callyn, and Hayley) and Rick (wife, Molly, and their sons, Jesse and Sean); as well as her brothers, Henry (Hank) Floyd (Edwarda) and Herbert (Herb) Floyd (Claire). Ellie shared her loving, engaging, and warm-hearted soul to all who knew her. Her frequent cheer of “Go Bucks!” was her way of saying ‘live life with passion and joy!’ Calling hours will be held Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH 43623 from 2 to 5 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Toledo Museum of Art, Epworth United Methodist Church, or to the Brunner Society at the University of Toledo.