Eleanor Woodward Balthis Mincher, born Nov. 14, 1915 in Louisville, Miss., a resident of Westminster Village in Spanish Fort, died Sunday, May 10, 2009.
She graduated MSCW with a double degree in chemistry/bacteriology. She married Russell F. Balthis Jr., June 1, 1940 and lived in Vicksburg, Miss., for 20 years. She worked at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station there for 14 years.
After their move to Mobile, she worked at the Mobile District of the Corps for 16 years, where she was a trailblazer — the first female Certified Engineering Technician. She was the “Concrete Lady” whose main job was on the construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. She was also the first female Ruling Elder in the Presbytery of Mobile at Cottage Hill Presbyterian Church.
After the passing of her husband in 1973, and her retirement in 1978, she married Albert R. Mincher, a beau from 45 years earlier. She moved to Prentiss, Miss., where they lived for 20 years, until moving to Westminster Village in 1998. She was active in the Mississippi and Alabama D.A.R., A.A.U.W., Society of Certified Engineering Technicians, and loved to play bridge.
She was preceded in death by both husbands, and two sons, Neil Mincher and Russell F. “Rusty” Balthis III.
Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Balthis Hicks, of La Grande, Ore.; three sons, Richard L. Balthis, of Mobile, John Mincher of Dickinson, Texas, and Jim Mincher of Wrightsville Beach, N.C.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13 at Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church with a reception to follow.
The family requests memorial donations be made to French Camp Academy, 1 Fine Place, French Camp, MS 29745; Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church, 1120 Spanish Fort Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527; or Westminster Village Foundation, 500 Spanish Fort Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527.
Cremation arrangements are by Hughes Cremation & Funeral Service, Daphne.
