Eleanor Jane Ross Mercke

MERCKE, ELEANOR JANE ROSS,

93, passed away on April 7, 2012.

She was the daughter of the late Charles D.

Ross and Ada Lewis Hart Ross.

Mrs. Mercke was born in Louisville, and later

moved to Purcellville, VA in 1963. In

2004, she moved to Lynchburg, VA. She was

a member of Patches 'n Pieces Quilt Club and

Friendship Knitters in Lynchburg.

Mrs. Mercke, better known to her friends and

family as Gammie, was a devoted wife, mother,

and grandmother. She was a vivacious,

charismatic, generous, and commanding woman

with many interests and talents throughout

her long life. After the early death of her husband,

she raised four children as a single

woman in an era when this was not common.

She loved dancing and acting and had a flair

for the dramatic right to the very end. She also

owned a crafts and needlepoint store and enjoyed

creating gorgeous, handmade sweaters

and clothes. Gammie passed along her creative

genes (and hopefully her longevity

genes) to her children and grandchildren. Her

favorite pastime was going to lunch with "the

girls," and it was always "her treat." This

earthly realm has lost an old soul but Heaven

has gained an angel. She will be missed

greatly by all who knew her.

Mrs. Mercke was preceded in death by a sister,

Elizabeth Ann Ross; a brother, William

Hart Ross; and her husband, Casper Clarence

Mercke, Jr.

Mrs. Mercke is survived by three sons, Peter

Mercke of Kopparberg, Sweden, Michael

Mercke (Robin) of Berryville, VA, and Brent

Mercke of Leesburg, VA; one daughter, Penny

Mercke Barden (Brad) of Lynchburg, VA;

a sister, Ada Lewis Keown of Issaquah, WA;

thirteen grandchildren, Ross Mercke, Karl Lucas

Mercke, Emelie Mercke, Brian Mercke,

Rachel Mercke, Katlyn Mercke, Steven Mercke,

Ryan Mercke, Kate Mercke Eshaghoff,

Erica Mercke, John Mercke, Sarah Barden,

Abbey Barden Carrico; and four great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held Thursday, April 12,

2012 from 5-7 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home in

Lynchburg. A funeral service will be held Friday,

April 13, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Tharp Funeral

Home in Lynchburg with Msgr. J. Kenneth

Rush officiating. Mrs. Mercke's interment will

be at Calvary Cemetery in Louisville.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a

contribution to the Central Virginia Area

Agency on Aging, 501 12th Street, Lynchburg,

VA 24504.

Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory of

Lynchburg, VA is assisting the family.

434-237-9424.

Condolences may be sent to the family by

visiting obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.