Dolores Eaton

Dolores (Dee) Nelson Eaton

CINCINNATI – Dee Eaton, 96, passed away peacefully at Maple Knoll Village in Cincinnati on July 13, 2021. Dee was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of Isaac and Laura Emling Nelson, and grew up in Angola, IN. She and her three siblings grew up in a loving extended family in the home where her mother ran a boarding house for college students, some of whom are still in touch with the family. Dee was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, F. Wendell Eaton, and by brothers Harold (Butch) and Burdette Nelson. She is survived by her children, Jane of Cincinnati and Tom (Anne Huntley) Eaton of Indianapolis, and her sister, Ileen Sadowski, of Rochester, NY. Also surviving are grandsons Geoff (Catherine), Joe (Cari), and Miles Eaton, bonus grandsons Will (Mia), Chris (Mary), and David Huntley, great grands Theodore and Andrew Eaton, and bonus great grands Tanner, Elaina, and Grant Huntley, plus many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In her last weeks she was able to enjoy visits with multiple family members. She was a wonderful mom and a favorite relative of many from all generations. Dee and Wendell raised their kids in Willard, OH after moving there from Crawfordsville, IN, having also lived in Elkhart, IN and Saginaw, MI. They had lifelong friends all over and Dee, one of the last remaining snail mail devotees, stayed in touch with them until very recently. Her interests included sewing, Research Club, golf, journaling, and bridge, but most of all travel. She and Wendell had a love of maps and road trips and explored many destinations, investigating Ohio, all the other states, and much of the world with friends and relatives. After Wendell’s death, Dee still had her wanderlust, and continued traveling with friends and taking solo trips to China and various Elderhostels. There were also several very successful “chick trips” with the two Nelson sisters and their daughters. Dee was described as sweet, selfless, and giving and she always thought of others first. “It’s a joy” was a phrase she used often in describing her life and her friends and family over the years and her outlook was always positive. She said until the end that she’d had a wonderful life. We all feel blessed to have had her in our lives for so long and she’ll be missed by all. We like to think Dee and Wendell are together playing bridge with their friends right now. There will not be a local service. Condolences can be sent to vorhisandryan.com or by mail c/o Vorhis & Ryan Funeral Home, 11365 Springfield Pk., Springdale, OH 45246 and any memorial gifts in Dee’s memory can be directed to the charity of your choice