Eleanor Stout Courtney, 98, of Marco Island, Florida and formerly of Beaver, a former professional librarian and high school teacher, passed away at her Florida home on August 17th, 2026.
She was born on December 25th, 1927, a daughter of the late Robert C. Stout and Geneva Oppelt Stout, she was the wife of the late Atty. Paul E. Courtney, the love of her life, whom she married on June 25th, 1949. They were married for 67 years. She was a former teacher at Beaver Falls High School and former assistant director and reference librarian at Carnegie Free Library in Beaver Falls. She was an active member of the Beaver United Methodist Church where she served as volunteer librarian of the Courtney Memorial Library for 55 years, the library having been endowed by the Courtneys in 1962. She contributed to the success of the library to the end of her life.
Eleanor was a charter member and first president of the Beaver County Association of Lawyers’ Wives and a former vice president and board member of the international Church and Synagogue Library Association, a popular workshop leader throughout the country at their annual conferences and a book reviewer for the organization’s magazine, all volunteer positions. In 1985 at American University, Washington, D.C., she was the recipient of the organization’s highest award for outstanding contributions to church and synagogue libraries. In the 1980s she was listed in Who’s Who Among American Women for her dedicated library services. One of her most popular national workshops was on the subject of What’s New in Religious Books.
She attended the University of Pittsburgh on a full honor scholarship, graduated cum laude at age 20, received a master’s degree in library science 35 years later. She was an honor graduate of the Beaver High School class of 1945, a member of the National Honor Society, and continued her contact with her high school classmates as a member of the reunion committee for over 75 years, cherishing her high school friends until the end of her life. Her childhood C.O.E.D.S. faithfully had lunch together every Friday.
She was an avid reader, believed in life-time learning, her personal bookplate reading, “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.” Influenced by a Sunday School teacher, as a child, Eleanor pledged to tithe a portion of her time to others. She never deferred nor neglected any opportunity to be of service.
Service to her church included Sunday School teacher, librarian, United Methodist Women, pastor-parish committee, council, Bible study leader, book discussion group organizer and grief group organizer. A favorite of her social organizations was the Book and Play Club of Beaver, which was founded in the year of her birth. She enjoyed the close friendships she made through the church and other organizations. While on Marco Island, she treasured her friends from water aerobics class and very much appreciated her devoted caregivers who treated her with respect and compassion.
She is survived by her children, Christopher, Colleen Bingle and her husband, Chuck, all of Marco Island, Florida, Dr. Julie Courtney Murphy, Gibsonia, and her grandchildren, Courtney, Ryan and Connor Murphy. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers Bob, Jr., Ray and Earle, and her sister, Lois Ann. Eleanor was very devoted to her family and served them with love and wisdom. Her cherished grandchildren will long remember her animated rendition of “Once there was a little boy who wouldn’t say his prayers… “and her whispered farewells, “You are my favorite five-year-old.”
Friends will be received from 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 28th at the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, who was in charge of her arrangements. Friends will also be received on Saturday, August 29th from 11 a.m. until the time of a funeral service at 12 noon at the College Avenue United Methodist Church, 345 College Avenue, Beaver. Interment will follow in the Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver. Friends, if they wish, may make contributions to the Courtney Memorial Library of the Church, 345 College Avenue, Beaver, PA 15009.
