Elinor Egbert

Elinor "Bunny" Egbert, 92, a 31-year resident of Sun City West, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2017, with her son at her side. She was born on September 19, 1925, in Salina, KS. Her father was Midwestern Sales Representative for International Harvester until the Dust Bowl and the Depression struck the agricultural Midwest. Her family bore the privations of those times which encouraged her to study hard. She earned a full scholarship to the University of Kansas, where she was graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1947. She was first in her class and also achieved the highest score in the state on the Nursing Board Exam.At KU she met Al Egbert, who graduated in the first class of aeronautical engineers from the University of Kansas. They were married in Lawrence, KS on January 4, 1948, and moved to Kansas City, where Al worked for TWA for 39 years. Their deep and abiding love lasted throughout their very happy 63-year marriage. Bunny worked as a hospital nurse until Stephen was born in 1951. Karen was born in 1953 and Bunny devoted herself to caring for her family. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother for Steve's pack. She encouraged her children to succeed academically and helped them with homework. She was active at church. When Karen was in high school, she worked as a school nurse in a junior high school.Bunny and Al enjoyed traveling and took advantage of passes available to TWA employees. They visited Hawaii many times, Fiji, New Zealand, Israel, Thailand, Hong Kong, China and most of Europe. In 1970 they took the family on a trip around the world to all the major TWA destinations. When Al retired in 1986, Bunny and Al moved to Sun City West, where they resided the rest of their lives. They were both active at their church, Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist. They established the Stephen Ministry, a program of lay ministry, to Shepherd of the Hills and trained many Stephen Ministries. She volunteered with Interfaith services and hospice.She is predeceased by her parents Ray and Pearl Kline; her four brothers Bruce, Don, Dale and Victor Kline; and her husband Al Egbert. She is survived by her son Stephen Egbert and her daughter Karen Egbert and her son-in-law Jon Hitchings. She will be remembered for her "feisty spirit and her love for chocolate."A memorial service will be held on December 21, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church Chapel, at 13658 W. Meeker Blvd; Sun City West, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to "Doctors Without Borders" or "Heifer International."