Obituary of Eleanor Fields Holcombe

Eleanor Fields Holcombe passed away peacefully on November 17.  A celebration of LIfe service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday December 16 at Messiah UMC, Springfield, VA. 

Eleanor Irion Fields was born on February 23, 1960, to Mary Irion and Thomas Frederick Fields and grew up in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Eleanor was the youngest of five children and quickly learned the importance of family, having a large extended family and many dear neighbors to share her youth with. 

After graduating from Pinecrest High School in 1978, Eleanor attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. While obtaining a degree in Marketing, Eleanor became a dedicated member of the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega. During Eleanor’s senior year, she was introduced on a blind date to Coast Guard Petty Officer Monty Holcombe. After a year of dating and 6 months of waiting, Eleanor and Monty were wed on July 2, 1983. 

Within weeks, they began their married life with a move to Boston where Eleanor was employed by Somerville Lumber, another great organization with many great coworkers. 

After a fun couple of years, Eleanor and Monty were transferred to Morehead City, North Carolina, where they enjoyed the wonderful friendship of neighbors and welcomed two babies: Deborah and Daniel. 

With their expanded family, they moved once again further south, to Destin, Florida. The family loved the beach life, but really loved the family at Destin UMC. This is where Eleanor began her love of playing in the church handbell choir. 

While leaving all of their friends in Destin was difficult, the next transfer took them to Honolulu, where the warm tropical atmosphere welcomed baby Drew. Living in Coast Guard housing provided Eleanor a great chance to look after many young military families and develop great friendships. 

After their quick two year tour in Hawaii, the Holcombes returned to the east coast and made their home in Wilmington, Delaware. They found their church family at St Paul’s UMC.  Eleanor joined the handbell choir and became an active member of multiple ministries. 

Moving one final time to West Springfield, the Holcombes joined Messiah UMC, where Eleanor was embraced by many wonderful individuals and ministries. She walked the Messiah motto of serving God by serving others: teaching Sunday School, leading Vacation Bible School, coordinating the Pumpkin Patch, hosting Taste of Grace, leading the youth group and Urban Plunge, ringing handbells, supporting others in the Funeral Ministry, and participating in Women’s Ministry. 

One of Eleanor’s greatest joys was welcoming all to her house on December 23 each year for Soup Day. The gathering of long time friends and new friends was always a highlight of her holiday season. 

Eleanor has lived a life full of love for her family, her neighbors, and her God. 

Eleanor is survived by her husband of 40 years, Monty Holcombe, Daughter Deborah Holcombe of Wilmington DE, Daniel Holcombe of Alexandria, VA, and Drew Holcombe of Washington DC.  Eleanor is survived by her sister Freda Alley of Pinehurst NC, brother Mac Fields of Pinehurst NC, predeceased by brother Charles Fields, and survived by her sister Carol Kocevar of Winchester VA.  

Donations may be made in Eleanor’s name to Urban Promise Wilmington, UrbanPromise.org  

Donations may be made in Eleanor’s name to Messiah UMC, West Springfield VA for the Endowment Fund 

Donations may be made in Eleanor’s name to any organization of your choosing that supports improvement in our communities.