Eleanor Rodgers Williams, 89, formerly of Hempfield Township and Greenville in Mercer County, passed away at 6:15 a.m. Friday at the St. Paul Homes, West Salem Township, Greenville.

Born May 12, 1919, in New Castle, she was the daughter of James Ernest Rodgers and Anna Grace (Cox) Rodgers.

She graduated from New Castle High School in 1937 and received her bachelor of arts from Grove City College in 1941. She later received her master's degree in education from Westminster College in 1965.

She taught English and speech at Blairsville High School from 1941 to 1945 and then at the Business Training College in Pittsburgh from 1945 to 1946. She then taught English at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City from 1947 to 1950 and then at Greenville-area schools from 1958 to 1979. She received the Teacher of the Year Award in 1969. She retired in June 1979 from the Greenville School District.

She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, where she served as an elder, trustee, chairman of the Christian Education Committee and president of the Presbyterian Women's Association.

She was a member of these educational associations: PSEA, NRTA, NEA and PSAR. She also was a member of the Coterie Study Club, the Thiel College Women's Club, the Friends of the Greenville Library and the former Greenville Hospital Auxiliary.

She married J. Robert Williams June 3, 1950, who survives at St. Paul Homes. Also surviving are three sons, James Williams and his wife, Susan, of Las Vegas, N.M., John Williams and his wife, Pam, of Seven Fields and a foster son, Tom Spargo and his wife, Brenda of Jacksonville, Fla.; two grandchildren, Tara and Marc; two foster grandchildren, Amber and Zachary; and a foster great-grandchild, Braylynne. Also surviving are many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Herbert Rodgers.

<B>WILLIAMS </B>— Funeral and committal services for Eleanor Rodgers Williams, who died Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, were at 11 a.m. today in the Westminster Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, Greenville. The Rev. David A. Dobi, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiated. Burial was at the North Side Cemetery, Butler.Arrangements were handled by the <B>Loutzenhiser-Jordan Colonial Funeral Home</B>, Greenville.Donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 323 Main St. Greenville, PA 16125.Visitors may sign the online guest book and watch a DVD tribute at www.loutzenhiser-jordanfuneralhome.com.