Married Charles Wilfred "Bill" VanDeventer on February 14, 1942 in Handley, Tarrant County, TX.
From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Friday, May 7, 2004:
Grapevine 'ambassador' spread city history
GRAPEVINE -- Eleanor "Pat" VanDeventer loved Grapevine, and the feeling was mutual.
Mrs. VanDeventer, who died Tuesday at age 86, lived in Grapevine her entire life and was a member of First United Methodist Church since 1930.
Friends and neighbors say Mrs. VanDeventer was a genuine presence in the town. She and her husband of 62 years, Bill, often volunteered at GrapeFest and Main Street Days. Mrs. VanDeventer also talked about the town's history at the Grapevine Historical Museum, where she worked every week, usually on Wednesdays.
Her love of volunteering and sharing town history continued until the end of her life: On Friday, just four days before her death from a stroke, she was at the museum, said Paul Ernst, a docent and past president of the Grapevine Historical Society.
"She was a very lively person, very friendly," Ernst said. "She was always happy and young in spirit."
Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Sallie Andrews compared Mrs. VanDeventer to well-known civic leader and town historian Ted Willhoite, who died in December at age 92.
"Losing her and Ted is so hard," Andrews said. "They were both community leaders."
"She was one of the best ambassadors for sharing the history of Grapevine for visitors and people coming to the festivals," Andrews said. "She's one of the people who just welcomed you and gave you a hug and was very willing to share her hometown with everyone."
Mrs. VanDeventer was "right about in the middle" of a family that included five girls and four boys, according to her daughter, Ellen Hamlett. She grew up on the family farm just outside of town. As a teen-ager, she competed in the Cantaloupe Queen contest at the Grapevine Cantaloupe Festival.
For years before World War II, cantaloupe was a major crop in the area. The festival, which drew thousands to Main Street, ran from 1935 to 1941. Friends say Mrs. VanDeventer was a member of the queen's court.
"She never got to be queen but she was in the pageants," Hamlett said. "It was a lot of fun for her."
Mrs. VanDeventer owned and operated City Florist, although Hamlett said she and other family members were not sure for how long.
She was a founding member of the 13-year-old Grapevine Heritage Foundation, board chairwoman Melva Stanfield said.
"Pat and Bill both were always there every time we needed them," said Stanfield, who lives across the street and one house over from the VanDeventers on Pebble Brook Drive. "They were always at our activities. She always had a smile on her face, always helpful. And she always had stories of how things used to be and would always give people a funny story about what life was like here.
"And she always said, 'Hi neighbor' and had the biggest smile."
Mrs. VanDeventer is survived by her husband, Bill; her daughter Ellen Hamlett; her sister Inez Crow; sons Charles and John; several grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Friday, May 7, 2004:
Grapevine 'ambassador' spread city history
GRAPEVINE -- Eleanor "Pat" VanDeventer loved Grapevine, and the feeling was mutual.
Mrs. VanDeventer, who died Tuesday at age 86, lived in Grapevine her entire life and was a member of First United Methodist Church since 1930.
Friends and neighbors say Mrs. VanDeventer was a genuine presence in the town. She and her husband of 62 years, Bill, often volunteered at GrapeFest and Main Street Days. Mrs. VanDeventer also talked about the town's history at the Grapevine Historical Museum, where she worked every week, usually on Wednesdays.
Her love of volunteering and sharing town history continued until the end of her life: On Friday, just four days before her death from a stroke, she was at the museum, said Paul Ernst, a docent and past president of the Grapevine Historical Society.
"She was a very lively person, very friendly," Ernst said. "She was always happy and young in spirit."
Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Sallie Andrews compared Mrs. VanDeventer to well-known civic leader and town historian Ted Willhoite, who died in December at age 92.
"Losing her and Ted is so hard," Andrews said. "They were both community leaders."
"She was one of the best ambassadors for sharing the history of Grapevine for visitors and people coming to the festivals," Andrews said. "She's one of the people who just welcomed you and gave you a hug and was very willing to share her hometown with everyone."
Mrs. VanDeventer was "right about in the middle" of a family that included five girls and four boys, according to her daughter, Ellen Hamlett. She grew up on the family farm just outside of town. As a teen-ager, she competed in the Cantaloupe Queen contest at the Grapevine Cantaloupe Festival.
For years before World War II, cantaloupe was a major crop in the area. The festival, which drew thousands to Main Street, ran from 1935 to 1941. Friends say Mrs. VanDeventer was a member of the queen's court.
"She never got to be queen but she was in the pageants," Hamlett said. "It was a lot of fun for her."
Mrs. VanDeventer owned and operated City Florist, although Hamlett said she and other family members were not sure for how long.
She was a founding member of the 13-year-old Grapevine Heritage Foundation, board chairwoman Melva Stanfield said.
"Pat and Bill both were always there every time we needed them," said Stanfield, who lives across the street and one house over from the VanDeventers on Pebble Brook Drive. "They were always at our activities. She always had a smile on her face, always helpful. And she always had stories of how things used to be and would always give people a funny story about what life was like here.
"And she always said, 'Hi neighbor' and had the biggest smile."
Mrs. VanDeventer is survived by her husband, Bill; her daughter Ellen Hamlett; her sister Inez Crow; sons Charles and John; several grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Married Charles Wilfred "Bill" VanDeventer on February 14, 1942 in Handley, Tarrant County, TX.
From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Friday, May 7, 2004:
Grapevine 'ambassador' spread city history
GRAPEVINE -- Eleanor "Pat" VanDeventer loved Grapevine, and the feeling was mutual.
Mrs. VanDeventer, who died Tuesday at age 86, lived in Grapevine her entire life and was a member of First United Methodist Church since 1930.
Friends and neighbors say Mrs. VanDeventer was a genuine presence in the town. She and her husband of 62 years, Bill, often volunteered at GrapeFest and Main Street Days. Mrs. VanDeventer also talked about the town's history at the Grapevine Historical Museum, where she worked every week, usually on Wednesdays.
Her love of volunteering and sharing town history continued until the end of her life: On Friday, just four days before her death from a stroke, she was at the museum, said Paul Ernst, a docent and past president of the Grapevine Historical Society.
"She was a very lively person, very friendly," Ernst said. "She was always happy and young in spirit."
Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Sallie Andrews compared Mrs. VanDeventer to well-known civic leader and town historian Ted Willhoite, who died in December at age 92.
"Losing her and Ted is so hard," Andrews said. "They were both community leaders."
"She was one of the best ambassadors for sharing the history of Grapevine for visitors and people coming to the festivals," Andrews said. "She's one of the people who just welcomed you and gave you a hug and was very willing to share her hometown with everyone."
Mrs. VanDeventer was "right about in the middle" of a family that included five girls and four boys, according to her daughter, Ellen Hamlett. She grew up on the family farm just outside of town. As a teen-ager, she competed in the Cantaloupe Queen contest at the Grapevine Cantaloupe Festival.
For years before World War II, cantaloupe was a major crop in the area. The festival, which drew thousands to Main Street, ran from 1935 to 1941. Friends say Mrs. VanDeventer was a member of the queen's court.
"She never got to be queen but she was in the pageants," Hamlett said. "It was a lot of fun for her."
Mrs. VanDeventer owned and operated City Florist, although Hamlett said she and other family members were not sure for how long.
She was a founding member of the 13-year-old Grapevine Heritage Foundation, board chairwoman Melva Stanfield said.
"Pat and Bill both were always there every time we needed them," said Stanfield, who lives across the street and one house over from the VanDeventers on Pebble Brook Drive. "They were always at our activities. She always had a smile on her face, always helpful. And she always had stories of how things used to be and would always give people a funny story about what life was like here.
"And she always said, 'Hi neighbor' and had the biggest smile."
Mrs. VanDeventer is survived by her husband, Bill; her daughter Ellen Hamlett; her sister Inez Crow; sons Charles and John; several grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Friday, May 7, 2004:
Grapevine 'ambassador' spread city history
GRAPEVINE -- Eleanor "Pat" VanDeventer loved Grapevine, and the feeling was mutual.
Mrs. VanDeventer, who died Tuesday at age 86, lived in Grapevine her entire life and was a member of First United Methodist Church since 1930.
Friends and neighbors say Mrs. VanDeventer was a genuine presence in the town. She and her husband of 62 years, Bill, often volunteered at GrapeFest and Main Street Days. Mrs. VanDeventer also talked about the town's history at the Grapevine Historical Museum, where she worked every week, usually on Wednesdays.
Her love of volunteering and sharing town history continued until the end of her life: On Friday, just four days before her death from a stroke, she was at the museum, said Paul Ernst, a docent and past president of the Grapevine Historical Society.
"She was a very lively person, very friendly," Ernst said. "She was always happy and young in spirit."
Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Sallie Andrews compared Mrs. VanDeventer to well-known civic leader and town historian Ted Willhoite, who died in December at age 92.
"Losing her and Ted is so hard," Andrews said. "They were both community leaders."
"She was one of the best ambassadors for sharing the history of Grapevine for visitors and people coming to the festivals," Andrews said. "She's one of the people who just welcomed you and gave you a hug and was very willing to share her hometown with everyone."
Mrs. VanDeventer was "right about in the middle" of a family that included five girls and four boys, according to her daughter, Ellen Hamlett. She grew up on the family farm just outside of town. As a teen-ager, she competed in the Cantaloupe Queen contest at the Grapevine Cantaloupe Festival.
For years before World War II, cantaloupe was a major crop in the area. The festival, which drew thousands to Main Street, ran from 1935 to 1941. Friends say Mrs. VanDeventer was a member of the queen's court.
"She never got to be queen but she was in the pageants," Hamlett said. "It was a lot of fun for her."
Mrs. VanDeventer owned and operated City Florist, although Hamlett said she and other family members were not sure for how long.
She was a founding member of the 13-year-old Grapevine Heritage Foundation, board chairwoman Melva Stanfield said.
"Pat and Bill both were always there every time we needed them," said Stanfield, who lives across the street and one house over from the VanDeventers on Pebble Brook Drive. "They were always at our activities. She always had a smile on her face, always helpful. And she always had stories of how things used to be and would always give people a funny story about what life was like here.
"And she always said, 'Hi neighbor' and had the biggest smile."
Mrs. VanDeventer is survived by her husband, Bill; her daughter Ellen Hamlett; her sister Inez Crow; sons Charles and John; several grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
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