Eleanor Elizabeth Slaten Wald

Eleanor Elizabeth Slaten Wald was born on May 11, 1916 in Wellington, Kansas to Eunice Clayton Slaten and Jesse Meredith Slaten. Eleanor graduated from the College of Education at the University of Kansas in 1938. In 1940, Eleanor married Elmer Wald of Herington, Kansas. They had one daughter, Merideth Ann. She and Elmer lived in Belen and Las Vegas, New Mexico. After moving to Albuquerque in 1953, she began teaching sixth grade at Lew Wallace Elementary School. Her Masters Degree in elementary education from the University of New Mexico was received in 1958. When Apache Elementary School was opened in 1961, Eleanor taught fourth and fifth grade in the "open classroom" concept. She retired from the Albuquerque Public Schools in 1977. Among the women's teacher organizations that Eleanor belongs to is Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, the largest international women's educational sorority. She held the office of State Treasurer for thirteen years and was the Chairman of the International Finance Committee. During her tenure, she stressed membership responsibility with consistent development of personal and professional growth results. Eleanor was a member of and has held many offices in the Daughters of the American Revolution, League of Women Voters, Eastern Star, Kappa Kappa Iota, Pi Lambda Theta Society and Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority. She was also a member of Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society, American Association of University Women, New Mexico Association of Educational Retirees and Central United Methodist Church. Eleanor dedicated many hours of volunteer work for the Lovelace Hospital Volunteers and was a member of the Board of Directors of the auxiliary. In 1959, Eleanor's friend, Matie R. Viles, began a foundation whose purpose is to provide scholarships to educate orphaned and half-orphaned children in San Miguel and Mora Counties. Matie asked Eleanor to be a member of her Board of Directors. Although Matie died in 1961, Eleanor remained on the board for fifty-five years, guiding the board and making certain that Matie's wishes have been carried out. To date, the foundation has given scholarships to 950 children totaling over two and a half million dollars. In 2009, Eleanor was honored by the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women as one of their ten Most Distinguished Women. In 2013, The Daughters of the American Revolution awarded her with the Excellence in Community Service. These awards were given primarily because of her work with the Viles Foundation, Inc. and the children of New Mexico. Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; and son-in-law, David Hmura. She is survived by her daughter, Merideth Hmura; and nieces and nephews, Kathleen Christoff, Gary Christoff, Ronald Wald, Robert Wald, Marsha Carbonneau, Mary Ellen Rich, Kenneth Keith, Raymond Keith, Brian Keith and Glen Keith. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2013, 10:00 a.m., at FRENCH - University, with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, 924 Menaul Blvd NE. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Viles Foundation, Inc., PO Box 1117, Las Vegas, NM 87701.