Eleanor “Sis” Lee Roberts Hilton Smith, 79, widow of Henry Clay Smith Jr., passed away peacefully in her sleep at home Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021.
Eleanor was born in Lexington on Nov. 30, 1941, to the late Clarence Alfred Roberts and Julia Ellen Etherington Roberts. Eleanor attended Pickstown, South Dakota, Norwood-Norfolk, New York, and Versailles High Schools and then entered the University of Kentucky for three semesters at the age of 16. She was very active in cheerleading, baton twirling, gymnastics, swimming and was a member of the National Honor Society to include the Librarian of the Historical Society. She went to work in the accounting department of Texas Instruments for six years and then became a legal secretary for14 years. She owned a Radio Shack franchise in Versailles for five years, then she went back to college at night while working at KLN in Frankfort and achieved an Associate Degree in Business Management. Her degree earned her a business management position at the Association for College University Telecommunication Administrators (ACUTA) until her retirement at the age of 62.
She belonged to and held several offices in clubs that included Eastern Star and the Rotary Club of Frankfort, the Business & Professional Women’s Club of Versailles, the Rotary Club of Frankfort, Women’s Sewing Club, Baton Twirling Young Girls Club, a board member of the Woodford Christian Church for four years, a Girl Scout troop leader and a Kentucky Colonel.
She is survived by a daughter, Dawn (Alan, deceased) Marie Hilton Reed, Versailles; a son, Brian Earl Hilton, Frankfort; three brothers, David Allen Roberts, White House, Tennessee; Kenneth (Billie) Charles Roberts, Versailles; and Glynn (Melissa) Ervin Roberts, Lawrenceburg; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Dale Roberts.
A graveside service was held Monday, Nov. 29, at Versailles Cemetery. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers were Brian Hilton, Tom Richardson, David A. Roberts, Kenneth C. Roberts, Glynn E. Roberts, Rick Deaton, Michele Y. Deaton and Stu Brown.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.clarklegacycenter.com.