1924
Eleanor
2017
Eleanor M Warner
October 19, 1924 — May 3, 2017
Eleanor Warner (nee Merrick), Born October 19, 1924, passed away May 3, 2017.
Eleanor grew up in Grand Rapids, MI and credited her parents for the path she took in life. Her father, Benjamin P. Merrick, was an esteemed lawyer in Grand Rapids, MI who was active in the development of social welfare in the city. Roberta M. Merrick, her beloved mother was a volunteer social worker for the Red Cross during WWII in Grand Rapids, serving families of young men and women serving overseas. Elizabeth Merrick Jones, predeceased in 2009, was a clinical social worker. Eleanor was married for 29 years to William Warner, a psychologist, an executive director of Beech Brook and a co-founder of the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.
After working for UNRRA, Eleanor worked with Chat Paterson and the American Veterans Committee, and then for his campaign to gain a seat in Congress, where she met and married Bill Warner. Eleanor became a social worker and a lawyer, and after her husband died in 1979, she went to work in aging. She worked at Benjamin Rose Institute and then found a professional home at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry of Cleveland where she worked as an Ombudsman and then as executive Director of the Long Term Care Ombudsman until retiring to volunteer status in 2000. Her accomplishments included drafting an adult protective services (elder abuse) law and working to get it through the legislature and into Ohio law. Her work, for which she received many awards including the Rev. Richard E. Sering Living Faith Award, was her passion, and combined her commitment to advocacy and social justice and working with the committed colleagues whom she loved. She made no apologies for working 6 days a week, and only took time off to be with family in Maine, with friends, and her dog.
As a lover of dogs since her childhood, her Tibetan, Maitreya was by her side until he died in July 2016.
Eleanor is survived by her children: Elizabeth Warner (John Stein) of Boston. Timothy Warner (Tish) of East Northport, NY, Mark Warner (Susan) of Topsfield, MA, and her eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. There will be a gathering to celebrate her life at Judson Park in Cleveland Heights at 1:00 pm Sunday May 7th.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, or Euclid Pet Pal.
Eleanor grew up in Grand Rapids, MI and credited her parents for the path she took in life. Her father, Benjamin P. Merrick, was an esteemed lawyer in Grand Rapids, MI who was active in the development of social welfare in the city. Roberta M. Merrick, her beloved mother was a volunteer social worker for the Red Cross during WWII in Grand Rapids, serving families of young men and women serving overseas. Elizabeth Merrick Jones, predeceased in 2009, was a clinical social worker. Eleanor was married for 29 years to William Warner, a psychologist, an executive director of Beech Brook and a co-founder of the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.
After working for UNRRA, Eleanor worked with Chat Paterson and the American Veterans Committee, and then for his campaign to gain a seat in Congress, where she met and married Bill Warner. Eleanor became a social worker and a lawyer, and after her husband died in 1979, she went to work in aging. She worked at Benjamin Rose Institute and then found a professional home at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry of Cleveland where she worked as an Ombudsman and then as executive Director of the Long Term Care Ombudsman until retiring to volunteer status in 2000. Her accomplishments included drafting an adult protective services (elder abuse) law and working to get it through the legislature and into Ohio law. Her work, for which she received many awards including the Rev. Richard E. Sering Living Faith Award, was her passion, and combined her commitment to advocacy and social justice and working with the committed colleagues whom she loved. She made no apologies for working 6 days a week, and only took time off to be with family in Maine, with friends, and her dog.
As a lover of dogs since her childhood, her Tibetan, Maitreya was by her side until he died in July 2016.
Eleanor is survived by her children: Elizabeth Warner (John Stein) of Boston. Timothy Warner (Tish) of East Northport, NY, Mark Warner (Susan) of Topsfield, MA, and her eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. There will be a gathering to celebrate her life at Judson Park in Cleveland Heights at 1:00 pm Sunday May 7th.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, or Euclid Pet Pal.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eleanor M Warner, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Judson Park
Guestbook
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