Send Condolence

Elizabeth Anne Reynolds Fenton

Bloomington- Elizabeth Anne Reynolds Fenton, 69, of Normal passed away at 3:15 a.m. on February 16, 2012 at the University of Maryland Medical Center-Shock Trauma.

Private funeral  services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, February 24, 2012 at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington with Rev. John McIntosh officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the memorial home. Burial will follow in Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Humane Society of Central Illinois or to The Baby Fold of Normal, IL.

She was born October 26, 1942 to Mary Brunskill Reynolds ofPontiac, Illinois and LaVerne Reynolds of Cornell, Illinois. As a small  child during WWII, she lived in Florida while her father trained.  After he deployed to the South Pacific, she lived in Swygert, IL on a farm and with her maternal grandparents in Pontiac, IL until his return.

Elizabeth (Liz) was the first of eight children, and helped care for her younger siblings and worked at the family business, Brunskill and Reynolds, until she went to college at ISU and met Paul Fenton at the Wesley Foundation on campus.  They were married in 1963. They had two sons who survive her, Luke and Mark Fenton of WI. Liz and her family moved to Menomonie, WI where Paul taught at UW Stout and where Liz attended.

Liz was devoted to her husband, who died in 2002. She became an extraordinary wife, supporting her husband in his professional efforts andinterests. They enjoyed travel, bird watching, hunting, fishing, camping, and food. Liz was an extraordinary cook. She loved painting and pottery and puzzles and reading voraciously. She considered her pets her family and loved each in turn.

As a mother, Liz made sure her sons grew up with a sense of respect for all people. Together with Paul, Liz taught her sons how to swim, fish, garden, have respect for nature, and to appreciate family. She was active
in many volunteer efforts and organizations throughout her life including LadyBugs, the Hospital auxiliary in Menomonie, WI, and The Dunn County Senior Center. Liz continued to travel after Paul's death, enjoying many visits to the Fenton Glass Factory in West Virginia, Sackets Harbor in Upper New York, and Baltimore.

Liz moved back to Illinois in 2008, where she became very active at Blair House. Though the calendar may have said "69", she was 29 in her heart and mind. She was well-loved, and her visits and thoughtfulness will be missed by family, neighbors and friends.  She especially loved and was loved by the two special children in her life, her grandson, Gabriel Fenton, and her niece, Clare Buchanan. She is beloved by all her surviving nieces and nephews.

Local survivors include sisters, Virginia Simmons, Bloomington, and Margaret Gambardella, Pontiac, Illinois and a brother, Phil Reynolds, Saunemin, IL, and a niece, Sherri Simmons, Heyworth, IL.  Siblings Martha Buchanan, Mary Fury, James Reynolds, and Steven Reynolds as well as many nieces and nephews also survive.  

Online condolences may be sent to the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.