Eleanor Beatrice (King) Bixby, 84 of Tiverton, RI passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 6, 2021 surrounded by her family. She was the loving wife of Richard W. Bixby for 61 years.
Born in Fall River, Massachusetts on August 20, 1936, Eleanor was a daughter to the late Maude B. (King) and Herman P. King. She was predeceased by her twin sister Elizabeth P. (King) Woodruff.
A graduate in the top of her class at Durfee High School in Fall River, MA in 1954,Eleanor had a series of secretarial jobs, but it was her job in the administration department of the Naval War College in Newport, RI that she enjoyed the most. She worked there for six years.
It was in her role as a daughter, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, caretaker, volunteer and neighbor where Eleanor’s cheerful disposition, kind heart and loving gestures really made an impact on everyone she encountered. In addition to raising her children, she volunteered for many years at Old Stone Church in Tiverton, RI, created a beautiful and welcoming home, ran errands for elderly relatives and neighbors and always made her family a priority. She was never happier than when she was in the kitchen cooking, baking and creating all kinds of delicious meals and treats that she would happily share with family and friends.
A lover of jigsaw and word search puzzles, family dinners, Wheel of Fortune and listening to her “cowboy music”, Eleanor also enjoyed a lifetime of travel with loved ones to destinations both near and far. She was a firm believer in living life to the fullest and it was a philosophy that she followed until she lost her battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Besides her husband, Eleanor is survived by her daughter Heather (Bixby) Fitzgerald of Little Compton, RI; her son Peter K. Bixby and his wife Maria of Bristol, RI; her nephew Bradford W. Woodruff of Swansea, MA; her niece Bethany (Woodruff) Riley and her husband Mark of Little Compton, RI; and five grandchildren Jessica, Liam, Ian, Olivia and Benjamin.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law Marjory E. (Bixby) Dunn and her husband John of Pelham, Alabama; her niece Pamela K. (Dunn) Dewberry and her husband Jim of Dripping Springs, Texas; her nephew Patrick W. Dunn and his wife Susan of Houston, Texas; and grandnephews Adam, Eric, Alan and Jack and grandniece Rachel all living in Texas.
Friends and family are invited to an outdoor Celebration of Life Service to honor Eleanor on Saturday, May 15 at 11 am. at 63 Little Harbor Road, Tiverton, RI.