A memorial service for Eleanor “Kit” Carson Magnuson Glaser will be conducted Monday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. at at Christ Episcopal Church, 405 9th St., Fairmont, West Virginia by the Rev. Steve Swift. Burial will follow in the Historic Woodlawn Cemetery on Maple Avenue in Fairmont.
Mother of actress Ann Magnuson, of Los Angeles, Eleanor passed away Nov. 21, 2006 in Palm Springs, CA. She was predeceased by her parents, David Arthur Carson and Nell Prichard Carson, half brother Allan Carson of Del Mar, CA. and son, Robert Carson Magnuson of Baltimore.
Eleanor was born in Fairmont, Sept. 3, 1928, and grew up in New York City, where her father was a newspaperman. Due to his health, the family returned to Fairmont and her mother became manager of the Field Club. Eleanor graduated from Fairmont Senior High School, class of 1946, and West Virginia University, class of 1950 with a B.S. degree in journalism (with a minor in theater). She belonged to Pi Beta Phi sorority and interned on the staff of The West Virginian during the summers of her college years.
While married to attorney Robert E. Magnuson, Eleanor resided in Charleston where she worked at WCHS-TV, WTIP/WTIO-FM and was active in the Junior League, Kanawha Players and Charleston Light Opera Guild. She moved to Parkersburg with second husband Richard Glaser in 1976 and worked at NBC radio affiliate WPAR. The couple later moved to Los Angeles where, after their divorce, “Kit” worked for Boxoffice Magazine and wrote for several publications including The Larchmont Chronicle. She also continued her studies at UCLA and Santa Monica College and acted in several student films. She moved to Palm Springs in 1996 where she was a private tutor and taught English as a Second Language at the College of the Desert. She remained active in her support for the arts as well as many causes including AIDS awareness and animal rights. She will be remembered for her passion, quick wit and love for all things feline. Donations in her name can be made to PETA, ASPCA or The Humane Society.