Eleanor Lobdell McVea Obituary (1928

Eleanor Lobdell McVea passed peacefully on January 2, 2018 at the home of her daughter, Anne, and her husband, Rod Kendall, in Orem, Utah. She had been ill of heart problems since summer, 2017, and was only 31 days short of her 90th birthday. She was the only daughter born to William Abram Lobdell and Eleanor Cabell on February 2, 1928 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, both of whom predeceased her. She was 18 years old when she married Coleman Lilley McVea on October 18, 1946 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They had been married 68 years at his passing on July 15, 2014 and was proud of being a homemaker and mother of 6 children, all of whom survive her: Ellen Louise, wife of Alan Loveland; Anne Lilley, wife of Rodney Kendall; Coleman Lilley, Jr. husband of Valli Nichols; Sarah Grace; Russell Lobdell, husband of Peggy Washburn; and Virginia Love, wife of Terrence “Terry” Tate. She had 26 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 2 ½ great-great-grandchildren. Mom was an expert wood carver especially of ducks and flowers. She was also an accomplished cross-stitch, crewel, and embroidery handcrafter. She left many lovely pieces which are treasured by family and friends. She was an avid genealogist, and had a wonderful memory for events, people and relationships in Louisiana on both hers and Dad’s sides. Mom graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1945 and attended Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge but quit after marriage to raise her family. She graduated from Brigham Young University with her son, Russell, fulfilling a life-long desire to complete her degree. Formal education was important to Mom and Dad, and they expected their children to go to college. All graduated from Brigham Young University with Bachelors, Masters or Juris Doctorate degrees. They were generous donors to Brigham Young University, where they established a scholarship in the name of Grace Lilley Pettit, Dad’s mother, and to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. A devoted and faithful disciple of Jesus Christ her whole life, Mom was an active member of the Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge and Zachary, Louisiana until she and Dad joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in March 1965. Afterward, they remained active and faithful members until their deaths. Mom and Dad moved their family “west” to Provo, Utah in 1970, so Dad could complete a Master’s degree at BYU. They decided to stay in Provo, and lived in the same house until summer of 2017, when she needed to be cared for due to her illness. She served in many church callings, and especially enjoyed teaching. She and Dad served 5 full-time church missions and enjoyed that time being together in the service of the Lord and of His children in San Diego, California; and Mississippi. Mom had 5 half-siblings who predeceased her: William Young Lobdell I (died an infant); William Young Lobdell II; Virginia Adelia Lobdell Jennings; Warren Russell Lobdell, (who died in World War II over France); and Eva Mae Lobdell (who also died an infant). Funeral services will be held at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, January 6, 2018 at the Edgemont 3rd Ward Chapel, 2900 North 650 East, Provo, Utah. Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, Friday, January 5, from 6-8:00 p.m. Interment will follow at the Utah Veterans Memorial Park, Bluffdale, Salt Lake, Utah. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.