Eleanor Ruth Cottrell Hartzell

July 01, 2017 Last Updated: July 01, 2017 12:01 PM Death Notice

Eleanor Ruth Cottrell Hartzell, 97, of Shrewsbury, N.J., formerly of Eatontown, N.J., passed away Saturday at Brandywine Living at The Sycamore.

She was born Aug. 3, 1919, to Dr. Elmer Bert Cottrell, Ph.D. Ed, and Emma Elizabeth Anschutz Cottrell.

She married Col. Herbert Frank Hartzell (AUS Ret.) Nov. 28, 1940. He preceded her in death Oct. 24, 2012.

Eleanor was born in Springfield, Mass., and grew up in Western Pennsylvania, where her father was a professor at Slippery Rock State Teachers College. She graduated from Slippery Rock in 1939 and taught health and physical education at Baldwin Township High School near Pittsburgh.

During World War II, she was employed with the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. She later served as an American Red Cross Hospital volunteer for more than 50 years. In 1987, the American Red Cross selected her for their Clara Barton Honor Award.

As an army wife, she accompanied her husband Herbert to posts in the U.S., Japan and Germany. She was a member of the Officers' Wives Club at these assignments, including many years at Ft. Monmouth, N.J.

Eleanor loved reading, dancing, following sports and getting funny birthday cards. She was an avid doubles tennis player well into her 80s.

The Hartzells lived in Eatontown, N.J., for more than 40 years before moving to Shrewsbury, N.J., in 2010.

Survivors include her son, Col. Donald E. (Mary W.) Hartzell, retired USAR, of Boalsburg, Pa.; her daughter, Maj. Gen. Trudy H. Clark, retired USAF, of Alexandria, Va.; brother, Dr. Edwin B. (Millie W.) Cottrell, Ph.D., of Hendersonville, N.C.; three grandchildren, Leslie Hartzell, David (Jooyoung) Hartzell and Bryant Hartzell; and two great-grandsons, Landon Hartzell and Austin Hartzell.

She is preceded in death by her parents and husband of 71 years.

HARTZELL — The family of Eleanor Ruth Cottrell Hartzell, who died Saturday, May 27, 2017, will receive friends from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.Funeral services will be observed 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. William Mumaw, pastor of Center Presbyterian Church of Slippery Rock, presiding. Interment will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be given to the American Red Cross.