Eleanor Louise (Hartwell) Pinkney

Eleanor Louise Hartwell Pinkney was born in the home of her Great Aunt Jennet Clark, on March 22, 1928. This house was just two houses south of the home where she would spend her entire adult life. Both of these homes were on Lempster Street, in Lempster, NH. Her parents Hubert C. Hartwell Jr. and Lillian G. Walker Hartwell would take her to their farm on LoveJoy Road, where she would enjoy her childhood years. She lived surrounded by her brothers, Wesley H. Hartwell, Robert W. Hartwell, (both deceased), Hubert C. Hartwell the third, and one sister Elizabeth A. Hartwell Heath, and many cousins, aunts and uncles.

Eleanor often said that some might have thought that she came from a poor family but as she put it, "everyone else was in the same boat, we did not know that we were poor but we did know that we were happy". She attended two of Lempster's one room schoolhouses and would graduate from Towle High School, Newport, NH, with the class of 1945.

She was proud to have been a life-long Granger, spending most of this time as a member of the Silver Mt. Grange #196, where she held several offices.

One of the highlights of her life was her participation in many of the plays which would take place on Lempster's Old Home Days and Fair Days. She was a good actor and she always knew her lines. Old Home Day each year was her favorite celebration and she assisted in the planning and presentation of many of these events.

In 1948 she married the love of her life, Gilbert J. Pinkney Sr. They made their home at 140 Lempster Street and it was there that they raised four children. Laura J. Pinkney, Marilyn A. Pinkney Sparks, Patricia L. Pinkney Gardner and Gilbert "Gil" Pinkney Jr. Gilbert Sr. would pre decease Eleanor, passing in 2014.

Eleanor's life goals were simple, she wanted a good husband and to be a full-time mother and homemaker, and to do this while living and dying in her beloved home town. She succeeded in her mission and was proud of her accomplishments.

Reading, biographies, historic novels and non-fiction books, faithfully following the Boston Red Sox, yoga, baking, and doing puzzles were her hobbies.

94 1/4 years is a long time to live upon the earth and Eleanor enjoyed good health for most of her days. Her inner faith will take her to the place that she expects to go as she bids the world good-bye.

Eleanor leaves behind her sister and one brother, her four children and their spouses Ron Sparks and John Gardner and Janet Rounds, eight grandchildren and three grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her burial will take place at a graveside service to be held at 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 19, 2022 at the East Lempster Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Friends of the Lempster Meeting House, PO Box 34, Lempster, NH 03605 or the Lempster Historical Society, PO Box 21, Lempster, NH 03605.

Her children would like to thank Janet Rounds for her constant and loving care which made it possible for Eleanor to stay in her own home until the end.

There are not enough good words to be said about Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice, and their helpful service to the Pinkney family.

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