McDowell

Elinor Louise (Minor) McDowell passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Concordia of Cranberry. She was two days shy of 90 years old, having been born Dec. 4, 1933, in New Castle, the second daughter of the late Ralph S. and Lois V. (Brown) Minor of Grove City.

She graduated in 1950, at the age of 16, from Grove City High School and attended Slippery Rock University for one semester, majoring in physical education. She enjoyed spending her time square dancing and running around with her best friend and future sister-in-law, A. Ruth (Garrett) McDowell. She married William “Dr. Bill” McDowell in Grove City, on May 7, 1955.

Elinor was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Sharon. They were part of the Couplers Presbyteers Class, of which faith and friendships outlasted the class.

In the 1950s, she worked at Wilson’s in Grove City and Leyde’s in Sharon, until she transitioned to homemaker with the birth of their first child, Jack Edward McDowell (deceased). She continued to spend time volunteering in various roles at the Red Cross and Shenago Valley Osteopathic Hospital, Farrell, Pa., now UPMC Horizon, of which Bill was one of the founding physicians.

Elinor and Bill loved to play a variety of card games with their close friends in the evenings. She belonged to several bridge clubs. When not playing bridge, tending to her flowers in her yard or swimming in the pool, Elinor enjoyed many years of playing volleyball with friends at the Buhl Club. Elinor and her husband, Bill, loved to travel to see their son and his family in Argentina. They also traveled with friends and took many vacations to see the world via cruise ship, and the United States via bus trip.

She especially loved spending time with her “local” grandchildren by attending their sporting events, school functions and annually taking them to her favorite store, Kraynaks, each holiday season to see Christmas Land and Easter Bunny Lane.

Elinor is survived by a daughter, Ginger (McDowell) Wilson and her husband, Christian, of Mars, along with their children, Victoria, Olivia and William Wilson. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Gloria (Chafuen) McDowell, of Argentina, currently of Maryland and her children, Jack E. McDowell of Oregon and his two children, Gwendolen and Malcolm; Thomas B. McDowell of Argentina, and children Vicente, Patricio and Julieta; and Michael A. McDowell and his wife, Alexis, of Tennessee. Her nieces and nephews, Cindy (Morley) and John Anthony, David and Anna McDowell, Bill and Lee Ann McDowell, John and “Vonnie” McDowell and Judy Thropp; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Jack Edward McDowell; her beloved husband, Dr. William G. McDowell; and her sister, Barbara (Minor) Morley.

MCDOWELL — A private service for Elinor Louise (Minor) McDowell, who died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, will be held at SCHELLHAAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Bakerstown. She donated her remains to Humanity Gifts Registry.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in her honor, to the local Red Cross, 517 Main St., Sharpsville, PA 16150 or to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 263 E. State St., Sharon, PA 16146.

Please offer condolences at www.schellhaasfh.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.