Eloise Rowan Fenton was born in Washington, D.C. in 1922, the daughter of Colonel and Mrs. George Riley Rowan USMC (deceased).
In her youth, Eloise excelled in sports as a tennis and golf champion. She won four school and collegiate tennis championships, and later as a young woman, she won 5 Golf Club championships – at Camp Lejeune, N.C., 1 at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and 1 at Quantico, Va. She graduated from the Georgetown Visitation Junior College in 1942, and the following year from the Washington School for Secretaries. She met her husband, Francis I. (Ike) Fenton, Jr (Colonel USMC Deceased) in Shanghai, China when they were teenagers during the 1930’s, with their respective fathers serving with the 4th Marine Regiment. Eloise and Ike were married in 1946 after the war.
Eloise was a supportive, loving and endearing daughter, wife, and mother. She saw her father, husband, son, and grandson (all Marines) endure the pains of war through nearly a century of conflict. While raising five children, she was an exemplary role model, selflessly serving in various and numerous civil and military clubs. She also made time to volunteer as a Gray Lady, which supported the Red Cross.
When Ike retired from the Marine Corps in 1970, they settled in Peachtree City, Ga. She was active in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church and named Woman of the Year in 1983. She was well-known and loved dearly, and is survived by her brother George Riley and sister-in-law Joan, her five children Michaelene, Frank, George, Russell, and Trish; twelve grandchildren; and seven great-granddaughters.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 5 -7 p.m. at Mowell Funeral Home, Peachtree City Chapel. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City. Eloise will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with her husband Ike.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Fenton Cup c/o Russ Fenton, 442 Glen Brook Springs, New London, N.C. 28127.
Carl J Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Peachtree City – www.mowellfuneralhome.com
