Mary Eleanor (Collins) Bull, 100, of Yellow Springs, passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 29, 2016.  Eleanor, the only daughter of the late Harvey and Nellie Collins, was born on April 1, 1916 , at her family's home on the Routzong Road, north of Xenia, Ohio. She completed grades 1-8 at Collins School on W. Enon Road, starting a year earlier than she was eligible; without her, there would not have been enough children to keep the one-room school open.  Eleanor often traveled to school on her pony; but evidently, the pony didn't like school, because it often escaped the pony shed and went home on its own.  Eleanor graduated from Xenia Central High School, and in 1938 graduated from Muskingum College with a B.S. degree in Music Education.  She taught music for three years in South Solon, fulfilling the school board's requirement that she start a school band.  She taught for a year in the early 1960's at Clifton School.  On June 17, 1941 , she married Harold E. Bull and moved to Clifton.  When he returned from service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, they moved to Xenia, where their three children were born, all of whom survive her: David E. Bull (Nancy) of Columbia, CT.; Susan E. Gerhard (James) of Alexandria, VA.; and Joyce (Betsy) E. McFadden (Bruce) of New Holland, OH.  Also surviving is a grandson, Jonathan E. McFadden (Jamie) of Worthington, Ohio, and a great-grand daughter, Kaitlyn A. McFadden of Worthington, Ohio.  Eleanor was "Aunt Minnie" to her nieces.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and by her brothers and their wives, Eugene and Bertha Collins, Fred and Evelyn Collins, and John and Gladys Collins.

She was a life-long member of the Memorial United Presbyterian (formerly 2nd United Presbyterian) Church, of Xenia.  At an early age, she joined her parents and two brothers in the choir, and remained a member into her eighties. Eleanor further shared her love of music, serving as a substitute organist at the church and frequently led group singing for many events – from Vacation Bible School to the annual Mother and Daughter Banquet.  She served as a Deacon and was a member of the church's Home Builders Luncheon Group, the Morning Friendship Circle, and the church Sewing Group, serving as Presbytery Sewing Chairman for many years.

Eleanor was an active supporter of the Greene County Extension activities. She participated as a member of the Xenia A.M. Extension Homemakers club; served one term as president of the Extension Homemakers Council; modeled in the 50 Years of Fashion traveling show, (celebrating 50 years of Extension Homemaker clubs in Greene County); and for many years, led the Greene County Extension Homemaker Chorus in their annual performance at the Greene County Fair.  She was a Campfire Girls (Blue Birds) leader, and received the Ernest Thompson Seton Award in 1971.  She volunteered in the Greene County Room of the Greene County Community Library, helping to establish the obituary collection used by many genealogy researchers.

She and her husband, Harold, were well known in the sheep and wool production/marketing world in Ohio, during the 1960's and 70's, with Suffolk sheep being their passion.  In 1999, she was honored by the Greene County Sheep and Wool Association with their Shepherd's Friend award for her active longtime support for the organization. Eleanor and Harold were also active in one of the neighborhood Ohio Farm Bureau councils.  She taught herself chair caning, and subsequently taught the skill to many Greene County residents at adult education classes for many years at Greene Vocational Career Center and Fairborn High School.  Since 2004, Eleanor resided at Friends Care Community Health Care Center, Yellow Springs, where she entertained the residents with beautiful piano music, shared books from her personal library to her fellow residents, served on the Quality of Life Council, and led

a variety of small group activities.

Her family was extremely important to her.  As the children were growing up, she actively supported a variety of scouting, music, 4-H, and sports activities, thus insuring their well-grounded community spirit.  During their college and later military service years, she sent a never-ending stream of letters and "care boxes" to each. Her happiest life-long moments were when the entire family – children, siblings, cousins, and nieces   were gathered to share food, laughter, memories, and details of their lives. Her family was the spirit of her life; they benefited from her smile, support, and enthusiastic love.