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Eleanor Marie Saxton Herbert, 92, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 18, 2009, with members of her family by her side in Rocky Mount, N.C. She was the daughter of Robert Case Saxton and Jennie V. Mills Saxton. She was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Western High School in Georgetown.
Later she lived and raised her family in Northern Virginia before moving to Whispering Pines, N.C., with her husband in the late 1970s.
Survivors include a daughter, Robyn H. Farnsworth and her husband, Barry, of Rocky Mount; and two sons, Robert S. Herbert and his wife, Sally, of Virginia Beach, and Henry E. Herbert and his wife, Jean, of Fredericksburg. Also left to cherish her memory are six grandchildren, Jack, Peter, Christopher, Patrick, Elizabeth and Mark; three step-grandsons, Jeff, Mark, and Scott; along with many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Henry; a brother, Kenneth Saxton; and sisters Margaret Wiley and Ruth Temple.
Eleanor was a kind and loving mother and grandmother. Her warm, engaging personality, gentle sense of humor, and thoughtful, caring nature will always be remembered.
She was an avid horsewoman, training horses and young riders for most of her life. Riding Cricket, her favorite horse, she was famous for leading friends and fellow equestrians on adventurous trail rides through the countryside near her Vienna home. Later, she delighted in keeping her grandchildren for summer vacations at her home on a lake in Whispering Pines, where each of them worked on their swimming and diving skills under her watchful eye. Her children and grandchildren will miss the loving interest she showed in their lives and the joy she took from their presence.
A memorial service will be conducted by Pastor Alice Curl at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rocky Mount at noon Wednesday, June 24. Following the service, the family will receive friends and guests at the home of Robyn and Barry Farnsworth.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks for the exceptional and loving care extended to their mother by the staff of Autumn Care in Nashville, N.C.
Arrangements are by Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, N.C. 27804.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the local SPCA of one's choice in Eleanor's name.
Online condolences may be sent to the Herbert family by visiting wheelerandwood lief.com.
