A. Eleanor Gilchrist

A. Eleanor Gilchrist, a long-time resident of West Rockhill Township, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 14, 2025, in Phoebe Richland Health Care Center, Richlandtown, PA. She was 91.

She was the beloved wife of the late Thomas J. Gilchrist for sixteen years.

Eleanor was a daughter of the late Clarence Jonathan Michener and Marguerite Virginia (Schwab) High. Eleanor was a graduate of Hatfield High School, Class of 1952.

After graduation, Eleanor had been employed in the insurance field and at Merck, Sharp & Dohme. However, for most of her life, Eleanor was a homemaker.

Eleanor had loved spending many summers at the Jersey shore, enjoying long walks on the beach, shell collecting, and taking in the serenity and beauty of the ocean. She also enjoyed birdwatching, reading, and, most of all, spending time with her family. She held a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. By far, her greatest joy was spending time with them and hearing about their many activities and life experiences. Above all else, she loved her family deeply.

Eleanor will be remembered for her kind, caring way of always putting others before herself.

She will be dearly missed by her three children: Kim Esquirell, Timothy Ronan and his wife Tinamarie, and Patricia (Ronan) Smith and her husband Robert; her three grandchildren: William Ronan and his wife Serena, Kelly Ronan, and Robert Smith; and her three great-grandchildren: Orin, Aela, and Maeve. Eleanor is also survived by her four sisters: Joan Noble, Barbara Cuppy, Patricia Ruch, and Linda Opdyke (Robert).

In addition to her parents and husband, Eleanor was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth High, and her former husbands, Charles W. Esquirell and William J. Ronan.

All are invited to visit with Eleanor’s family on Monday, December 22, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Betty Meier Steeley Funeral Home, 87 N. Main St., Sellersville, PA 18960. Her funeral service will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a graveside service at Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler.