Sally Gilpin: Longtime Member of Reformed Church of Bronxville

Eleanor Sarah "Sally" Gilpin died peacefully in her room at Woodhaven at The Williamsburg Landing on Sunday evening, May 5, just 16 days shy of her 101st birthday. She exited this world as gracefully as she lived her life.

She was born on May 21, 1912 in Flushing, N.Y., the older child of Oscar and Helen Holcombe. She was a graduate of Cliffside Park High School in New Jersey in 1929 and the Katherine Gibbs School in New York City. She was a secretary for 12 years in NYC after finishing secretarial school.

She married E. Roy Gilpin on August 5, 1942, in Teaneck, N.J. Mr. Gilpin worked for Reid and Priest on Wall Street. They were members of several area country clubs, golf club and field club. During her married life, she travelled the world extensively both accompanying her husband on business and with him for pleasure. Together they circled the world, when trips were pieced together, a total of 7 times. One of her favorite spots was Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies where they spent their honeymoon. 

After Roy's death in November 1981 in Bronxville, N.Y., she moved to The Williamsburg Landing in April 1991 where she led a very active lifestyle. She made many dear friends and was often one of the first to greet new residents. She continued to travel each summer to New Hampshire to vacation with her brother, Robert and his wife, Libby Holcombe as well as her dear cousin, Mildred Cromwell, now of Utah. They were often joined by close friends. Each winter the group spent a month or more in Long Boat Key, Fla. With her stepdaughter "Gin" and her husband, Carl Lerner living on Maui for over 30 years, Eleanor visited them frequently. 

While at The Landing, she participated in bridge and cultural events as well as volunteering at T. Rawls Byrd Elementary School where she tutored young students in their reading program. She enjoyed knitting and needlepoint and learned to make cut paper pictures and lampshades. Two of her cut-paper pictures have been donated to The Landing and will now decorate the wall outside her room at Woodhaven in the long-term skilled care first floor wing. Even with increasing signs of aging, she continued to be the consummate gracious hostess, including hosting her niece, Faith's visits from Bend, Oregon several times a year for the past 10 years. Friday morning for many years, she had breakfast at The Landing Building with dear friends, Ann Symroski, Judy Hamblet, and Sally Councill. 

Her dear friend, Bert Schmidt, also part of the Friday Breakfast Group, predeceased her by just eleven days. She was loved by many and will be missed by all, both friends as well as the caring staff at The Landing. 

She ws predeceased by her parents Oscar and Helen Holcombe, her stepdaughter, Virginia M. "Gin" Lerner, and her brother, Robert Holcome and his wife, Libby, Bob in March 2011 here in Williamsburg. She is survived by her cousin, Mildred Cromwell and her three adult children of Utah and California, as well as her niece, Faith Gilpin, of Bend, Oregon. Her brother's son, Charles F. Plymale, Sr. of West Virginia and grandson, Charles F. Plymale, Jr., along with Cathy Porter and their daughter, Chase Plymale, age 6 months, of Alexandria, VA., also survive her. She had a wonderful visit from Charles and his family as well as her niece, Faith in mid-February of this year with many opportunities for four-generation pictures, now priceless.. In addition, several nieces and nephews as well as many dear friends to whom she was known as "Aunt Sally" will miss her. 

At her request, she was cremated. She was interred at the Reformed Church of Bronxville Columbarium on May 15, 2013, where she's been a member since 1945, next to her beloved husband. Her niece, Faith accompanied her on the train on this one last adventure together from Williamsburg to Bronxville. 

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at Woodhaven Assisted Living Parlor, 5500 Williamsburg Landing Drive, on the Williamsburg Landing Campus, on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 11 a.m. with a small reception to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorials be made in her name to The Williamsburg Landing Benevolence Fund, 5700 Williamsburg Landing Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Online condolences may be expressed atwww.nelsencares.com. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Nelsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Williamsburg.