Eleanor Lewis, 101, passed away on Easter Sunday after a short illness at Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home in Albany, NY, one day shy of her 102 birthday.

Eleanor (“El”, “Ellie”) was born April 6, 1924 in Gloversville, NY to the late Paul Williams and Vera Ford (“Nana”). She attended Gloversville High School and graduated from Spencer Business School in 1950.

Eleanor was married to Benzure (Ben) Lewis and gave birth to her much beloved, only child, Linda, in 1946. Linda preceded her mother in death on November 13, 2022.

Eleanor worked at GE for over 40 years. She started as a secretary and worked her way up to Computer Programmer. She was one of the first Black people to work in an office at GE in the 1940s-1950s. After retirement, Eleanor worked at the Schenectady County Public Library for over 10 years. She loved reading and being around books. She took organ lessons and loved playing her organ at home, she had books of songs that kept her busy for hours. She loved listening to music and had an extensive CD collection, she liked most genres but loved listening to jazz the most.

Eleanor was very active and had many hobbies up until her later years. Two of her favorites were golfing and bowling. A member of the KAPL Mixed Bowling League from 1981 to 2009 Monday's Funnies Bowling league from 2002 to 2013. She was a member of the Electric City 600 women's bowling club and a lifetime member of the Schenectady and Scotia women's bowling association. She also was an avid golfer and loved Tiger Woods!! Her family has many memories of her bowling in the winter and golfing in the summer, that time brought her a lot of happiness. She also enjoyed collecting Swarovski crystals and amassed a large collection over the years.

She is survived by her three grandchildren, her devoted granddaughter and caregiver, Stacey Lewis of Gaithersburg, MD, her grandson, William E. Barnes, Jr. of Colonie, NY and granddaughter Lynee Barnes of Colonie, NY; a niece, Patricia Williams, of Houston, Texas, a great-grandson, Jhordan Barnes and two great-great grandchildren, Gabriel, Jasdyanna and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Linda, her son-in-law William E. Barnes SR., her sisters Pauline, Elizabeth ("Betty"), Sylvia ("Sibby") her brothers James ("Jimmy"), Paul Jr. ("Skip") Courtland ("Courty"), and her cousin Emelda ("Mimi").

Eleanor was the longest member of Duryee Memorial AME Zion Church in Schenectady, NY, she was in the missionary society, the gospel choir and People's church. She was a class leader and played the organ for special church events.

Funeral services will be held at the Duryee Memorial AME Zion Church, 311 Hulett St., Schenectady on Saturday, April 11th. Visitation hours will be from 11am-12pm and the funeral service will be from 12-1. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.