Obituary of Ellen Buxton Salander

Ellen Buxton Salander St. Therese, the Little Flower, please pick me a rose from the Heavenly Garden and send it to me with a message of love. Ask God to grant me the favor I thee implore and tell Him I will love Him each day more and more. Amen. Ellen Buxton Salander, 82 of Englewood, died suddenly at her home on December 23, 2008, after enjoying vibrant health for most of her life. She was born on March 6, 1926 in Akron, Ohio. Ellie was a loving and beloved wife and mother. She was a retired telemetrist who helped to pioneer computerized missile systems during World War II, after being recruited from the University of Akron. She started a new life in Texas in 1961 and was active on many levels of Dallas County government and regional PTA before moving to Florida in 1987. She was a dedicated volunteer and respected book reviewer and public speaker for more than 35 years. Her family, friends and fans will miss her deeply. Among her many activities, Ellie was Vice President & Membership Chair of the Friends of the Elsie Quirk Library. She looked forward to leading its 2009 Great Decisions Discussion Group, the largest in Florida, as she had since 2005. Survivors include her daughter Susanna Werner of Venice; two sons Coburn A. Buxton Jr. and Richard S. Buxton; three stepsons G. Edward Buxton III, John A. Buxton and his wife Barbara P. and David S. Buxton all of Dallas; grandson G. Edward Buxton IV, his wife Dona and two great grandsons G. Edward Buxton V and Cameron R. Buxton of Acworth, GA; sister-in-law Ruth Kleinberger of New York City; and nieces and nephews in New Jersey, New York and Ohio. Ellie was preceded in death in 1984 by her second husband, Coburn A. Buxton of Dallas, an advertising executive, investor, Republican Party official and sports enthusiast, and in 2001 by her third husband, Bernard Salander of Englewood, a nationally-renowned artist and sculptor whose works are in museums, galleries, municipal buildings, synagogues, churches and private collections throughout the United States. Ellie's sister Ann W. Hershey of Akron, an astrologer, and parents Herman E. and Dorothy S. Werner, who moved to Venice from Ohio in 1968, also predeceased her, as did Stripe, Dennis, Fritz, Snuffy and many other adored animals. Her father was a judge, prosecutor, law director, state legislator and World War I veteran. Her mother was a homemaker and an artist. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Englewood Helping Hand, Inc.; Meals on Wheels Englewood; WGCU Public Radio Station; All Faiths Food Bank Sarasota; and/or Salvation Army of Sarasota Co. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Englewood Community Funeral Home, Inc. 3070 S. McCall Rd. Englewood, FL 34224.