Eleanor was the daughter of David Harry Brown (Dave) of Modesto and Amelia Johnson Brown of San Francisco. Dave and Amelia had two children, Eleanor and David Harry Brown, Jr. (Harry), before Amelia died at age 24. A few years after Amelia’s death, Dave married Margaret Eleanor Vella. They had one child, Leonard Brown.
Eleanor was born, raised and educated in Modesto; graduating from Modesto High School and Modesto Junior College. She started San Jose State College but returned to work as a bookkeeper for father’s business. There she met her future husband Jacob Holtzman.
When Eleanor and Jacob married they settled down on river bottom land near the communities of Newman, Crows Landing and Patterson. Eleanor quit work and became a housewife, mother, member of Bonita Elementary PTA, room mother for each of her daughters, a 4-H sewing instructor, and chaperone for 4-H dances.
As her girls started entering high school, she again entered the workforce; first with Patterson Irrigation and then Bessie Motor Company. Jacob and Eleanor were charter members of the Modesto Camellia Society and Jacob, an amateur hybridizer named his first registered seedling “Eleanor Holtzman” after his wife. His second and only other registered seedling was “Mikey B.” after their first born grandchild. The couple made many friends through the Camellia shows and through another passion: ballroom dancing.
Eleanor loved knitting, reading and people; especially children. She knitted caps for premature infants and hats to be included in shelter care packages.
She loved family and the holidays”¦or any occasion that brought family together. She was a loving, forgiving and exemplary mother. We were very lucky.
Eleanor is survived by her brother Leonard Brown and wife Gerry; her cousin Dorothy Hughes; daughters Lenora Boeddiker, Rebecca (Dan) Parker, Margaret (Charlie) Tracy; grandchildren Michael Boeddiker, Jonathan (Serena) Boeddiker, Amanda (Jason) Parker Mitchell, and Bradley Parker; and great grandchildren Reese Ryan and Hazel Boeddiker.
No services will be held. Please share your memories at www.AllenMortuary.com.
Please share your memories at www.AllenMortuary.com.
Condolence(1)-
Stephen Manchester says
January 7, 2019 at 12:05 amI knew Eleanor thru being friends with her daughter Becky and son-in-law Dan who I worked with at thr post office. My wife and I shared many holiday dinners at the ranch with the Parker family.
Eleanor I think was the most sweetest, kindest loving person I ever knew. Never a bad word for anybody. A beautiful smile with a loving heart that was open to everybody. She will be missed. Rest in peace and love Eleanor.