Eloise D. Dean

Frances Eloise Dunlap was born June 15, 1923 in Rawlins, Wyoming, to Irene Jones Dunlap and Herschel E. Dunlap. She was the only daughter, with an older brother, Ellison, a younger brother, Don, and a half-brother, Walter Sherry. She passed away December 16, 2016 at age 93 in Olympia, Washington. Her family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and she attended grade school and high school there. She then studied at the University of Utah and, after her military service, she graduated with honors and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a scholarship society. Eloise enlisted in the US Army during World War II and served as a dietician at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC. When the war ended, she returned to the University of Utah where she met and married Charles Dean, who was attending the university under the GI bill. Charles also served in the US Army during the war as a lieutenant. Early years of married life were spent in Helena, Montana, where three of her children were born, Charles Jr, Randy and Susan. In 1953, the family moved to Spokane, Washington, where the children went through grade school and some of their high school years. There Eloise was active in the PTA, charities and the Beta Sigma Phi service sorority. She also was involved in guild work with St. Andrews Episcopal Church. Two more children were born to Eloise and Charles in Spokane, Loren and Geoff. A new job opportunity for Charles lead to the family moving to Olympia, Washington, in 1964. Eloise continued with the Olympia chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, serving in most offices over the years, and receiving the highest Diamond Pin award in 2012. The Deans joined St. John’s Episcopal Church in Olympia soon after the move. Eloise was very active in the altar guild over the years at St. John’s. Loren and Geoff attended Olympia grade schools and then went on to Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma. Eloise was an avid enthusiast for logic puzzles and Sudoku. She also loved jigsaw puzzles and assembled hundreds of them over the years. Her greatest puzzle achievement was a 12-foot (8,000 piece) version of the Michelangelo ceiling painting in the Sistine Chapel. A kind, generous, patient and thoughtful woman, Eloise was truly a good friend to those who knew her and a loving mother to her children. Quick to love and slow to criticize or complain, she made the most of her 93 years. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the discretionary fund of St. John’s or the charity of your choice. Please leave memories of Eloise or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.