In loving memory of

Eileen Louise Rankin
July 12, 1927 - April 30, 2023

Eileen Rankin, 95, died April 30 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. She was born in Columbus, OH in 1927 to Edward Buckley and Catherine Stiles Buckley. She had two older sisters, Jean and Doris, and a younger brother, Eddie.

Eileen met her future husband, Robert Rankin, in high school, and they were married in 1948. They both attended Ohio State University. After graduating, they moved to Morgantown, West Virginia, where Bob taught Psychology at WVU and Eileen received a Master's degree in Library Science and worked at the university library. Their daughter, Kathleen, was born in West Virginia, and in 1968 the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Eileen was a librarian at the public library, and after leaving that position served as a member of the Library Board. In that capacity, she was proud to have participated in the process of expanding and renovating the library. Later in her working career she was a secretary at Core Laboratories. She also did volunteer work.

Despite living some distance away, Eileen maintained close ties to her extended family, and made frequent trips to visit her siblings and other relatives. She thoroughly enjoyed becoming a grandmother to her grandson, Griffin, and was fond of the series of "granddogs" who joined the family over the years.

Eileen and Bob (who always called her "Eenie") enjoyed traveling in the US and Canada, and also spent many summers welcoming family and friends to their cottage on Douglas Lake in northern Michigan.

She enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing, knitting, cross-stitch, calligraphy, and also did genealogical research for many years.

Eileen was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 69 years, her sisters Jean Wheeler and Doris Bender, her brother-in-law Lloyd Wheeler and her nephews Craig Buckley and Charles Wheeler.

She is survived by her daughter, son-in-law Alan Grams, grandson Griffin, her brother Edward Buckley, Jr.(Patty), 2 nieces and 4 nephews and their families.

She will be buried in Lithopolis Cemetery, Canal Winchester, Ohio.

Tributes

Charlene Hyland wrote on May 3, 2023:

"Dear Kathleen, I am so sorry for your loss. Your mom, you and the entire family will be in my thoughts and prayers.. Just know that you took excellent care of your mom. Charlene Hyland"