Kennard and Eleanor Oakes Loignon Family

Kennard and Eleanor Oakes Loignon

Augmented Obituary for Eleanor Oakes Loignon

Eleanor Dean Oakes Loignon was born on May 27, 1943, in Vicksburg, MS, to Fred and Margie Hartley Oakes. Her siblings include Charles Frederick Oakes (deceased), Melvin E. L. Oakes (Pat) Austin, TX, Floyd F. Oakes (Betty) Gonzales, LA, Donald S. Oakes (Bettye) Vicksburg, MS. Eleanor passed away on February 23, 2020, in Philadelphia, PA, following a lengthy period of medical challenges and ill-health. She was 76 years old.

Eleanor became a Seventh-day Adventist as a girl. Many times she had her Sabbath School and Worship Service with her mother under the trees on their property when they could not get to church. She had a desire to become a teacher at an early age and received her training at Southern Missionary College where she graduated. Later, she would work on her master's degree at Andrews University.

Her first experience as a teacher was at an Adventist church school in Vicksburg. In the early 1970s, Eleanor came to Maryland and worked in the education program of the Chesapeake Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. She later taught at the Greater Baltimore Junior Academy, the Blythedale Church School, the Cumberland Church School and the Hudson Church School at the Wilna Church. While living in California, Eleanor was asked to help revise the Bible curriculum. She accepted and worked on writing the Bible workbooks for the program.

Eleanor was a talented pianist and met her future husband, Kennard, one day in the mid 1970s when he asked her to play the piano for a quartet in which he participated. They were married on August 3, 1975.

Mrs. Loignon taught for two years at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota while Ken helped both at the school and performed maintenance tasks on the reservation.

Their son, Kennard Frederick Loignon “Kenny” was born on April 3, 1978, at Cumberland, MD. Eleanor and Ken moved to Keene, TX in 1982 so Ken could study for the Adventist ministry. They later moved to Montana where Ken pastored in a district of churches.

In 2003, they purchased a home in Delta, PA.

Following her retirement from teaching, Eleanor worked at Michael’s Craft Store in Bel Air, MD. At the Norrisville Church, she was a devoted pianist, taught the Sabbath School lesson, was Head Sabbath School Teacher for the adult class and served along with her husband as an elder.

Eleanor was a wonderful person who could give you great, insightful, Christian counseling. As her health was failing, she began a unique Card Ministry which she used to uplift and encourage many people. Her life was one with many facets and dimensions.

Kennard and Eleanor's son, Kenny, and his wife work in China.

Poem below written by Kennard Loignon, February 23, 2020

Kennard and Eleanor Oakes Loignon Album