Age 89 of Santa Barbara, CA, passed away peace fully on December 21, 2012, listening as her son sang Moon River, her favorite song.
Eleanor (Ruthie) was born in Portland, Oregon on November 23, 1923 to Ida D. Yokel and Leonard Hay. She married Leroy (Lee) Earl Stecker on March 8, 1945, and they were married 65 years until Lee passed away on February 1, 2010.
Eleanor worked in the Portland shipyards during World War II supporting the war effort until she met her future husband, a young naval officer, at a local dance hall. They both had a passion for dancing, and each was impressed by the other’s good looks and dancing ability. They were soon married, and Eleanor enjoyed her role as a Naval Officer’s wife. They traveled all over the world, including living for a time in Japan with their daughter Diana. The family settled in Santa Barbara when Lee became the local Navy Recruiter, enlisting “many of Santa Barbara’s finest.” After moving to Santa Barbara their son Jeffrey John “Skip” Stecker was born and their family was complete.
Eleanor loved to cook, and what started as a hobby grew into a catering business for Santa Barbara’s elite. Eleanor also enjoyed traveling, especially the trips she took with her daughter Diana. One trip that she took with her son that was especially meaningful to her was as a chaperone for the Santa Barbara High School Marching Band’s trip to Geneva, Switzerland in 1973. She was also instrumental in helping to raise money that made it possible for all students to be able to take part in the once in a lifetime experience.
She was a member of the Masonic Temple Eastern Star Lodge, and a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She also supported many local charities. One of the greatest gifts the she gave to her children was instilling the ability to treat all people as equals, no matter their race, religion, or physical or mental abilities.
Eleanor is survived by her daughter, Diana Palmer (Brian); son, Skip Stecker (Loren); grandchildren John Palmer (Yvonne), Dawn Brown (Micah); grandchildren Ashley Brown, Alaina Brown, and Andrew Palmer; and also daughter Diana’s lifelong friend Colette Fanning Fischer, who was a second daughter to Eleanor and an older sister to Skip. Eleanor’s family wishes to thank Patsy Mayo for being an excellent caregiver and companion to Eleanor during the last several years of her life.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Friday, January 18th at 1:00 pm at Santa Barbara Cemetery on Veteran’s Hill (Mountain View). Lifetime family friend and neighbor Michael Ballinger will be officiating.
“We’re after that same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend, my huckleberry friend, moon river, and me”
