HONEY BROOK, PA: It is with great sadness, yet greater joy that we share with you the passing of our beloved mother, Eleanor Ruth (Sanderson) Warriner, age 102, from this earth to her eternal heavenly home on October 13, 2021.
Ellie was born in Springfield, MA on April 10, 1919 to Herbert and Jessie Sanderson. At age five, she traveled with her parents and her brother Dean across the country to California in a Model T Ford, camping along the way. After several years, her family moved to Michigan where Ellie graduated from Pontiac High School in 1937.
She was hired by General Motors as a telephone operator because she did so well on the test they gave requiring the ability to remember numbers accurately. During WWII when the factory was used in the war effort, Ellie worked the night shift for 2 ½ years assembling the motors of the “Ducks” that transported the troops from the ships to the shore. When the employees at General Motors were given the opportunity to submit a suggestion to improve production, she received an award for her idea. Her name is included on the WWII National Memorial Registry as an Honoree Civilian on the Homefront.
On December 23, 1946, Ellie married Richard Lewis Warriner, Sr. They bought a home in Lake Orion, Michigan and began raising a family there. In 1958 they returned to Massachusetts and lived in Huntington for the rest of their married lives. Ellie’s life touched the community in many ways, among them serving as an active member of The American Legion Auxiliary. She also volunteered as a Cub Scout den mother for several years. She and Richard were both employed at Gateway Regional where she retired in 1984 from her work in food service.
Ellie was a member of the Huntington Evangelical Church. She served faithfully in many areas including the Women’s Missionary Guild, a ministry which was very special to her. Ellie lived in Huntington for 50 years until moving to Honey Brook, PA in 2008. While living there, she attended East Brandywine Baptist Church in Downingtown, PA where she was baptized at age 90. Her church families meant so much to her over so many years.
Most of all, Ellie loved to spend time with family especially over the holidays. She enjoyed helping in the kitchen, playing games with everyone after dinner, and taking pictures! On special occasions, she loved having a shrimp or lobster dinner. Even in her nineties, Ellie visited family in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Florida. Ellie will be remembered for her lasting faith and love of family.
Ellie is predeceased by her husband, Richard Lewis Warriner, Sr. in March of 2004, and by her brother, Dean Herbert Sanderson, in December of 2002. She is survived by 4 children: Richard and Candace (Newell) Warriner, Jr., of Pike, NY; Robert Dean Warriner of Winchester, NH; Lorraine (Gregory) Morin of Honey Brook, PA; and Daniel and Andrea (Netzer) Warriner of Ossipee, NH. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren: Marci (Gregory) Gould of Deltona, FL; Jennifer J. Warriner of Silver Springs, NY; Wesley (Amanda) Warriner of Huntsville, AL; Laura (Jeffry) Gummeson of Hadley, MA; Aaron (Amanda) Morin of Mohnton, PA; Jessie Huddle of Downingtown, PA; and Denis Pelletier of Sunderland, MA; Raelan Huddle, Addison Huddle, Jude Gummeson, Miles Morin and Wyatt Morin. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
The family is planning a memorial service in Huntington, MA to be announced at a later date. Burial will be in Norwich Bridge cemetery in Huntington. Memorials may be sent to Huntington Evangelical Church, PO Box 7, Huntington, MA 01050, or to the Women’s Missionary Guild at the same address.
