Eleanor Benz left Chicago Lake View High in 1936.
Her friends could not believe, that in the middle of the year,
She would leave, with only a short time left before her graduation.
They knew that education to Eleanor was very dear.
It was a puzzle that she would drop out with graduation so near.
To her teachers and fellow students Eleanor’s reasons were not clear.
Later they discovered that her leaving was related to a family need.
When a job offer came, she took it with amazing speed.
Therefore, she became the most famous “drop out” of the year.

Over the following decades she moved to the Chicago suburb,
Where she developed a “career”, and continued a family whoopee.
Though out the years, Eleanor increased her family,
By adding 15 children, 54 grandchildren and 37 great grand ones.
During this time she never lost her love of learning.
She continued night school along with her daily income earning.
Eleanor increased her skills by attending night school,
Where she became a proficient typist and bookkeeper,
Adding valuable offerings to her employment skills pool.

Recently, in the spring of 2009, she shared with one of her daughters,
That never completing high school was a great disappointment.
Her children contacted Lake View leaders, and made an appointment.
A 90-year-old suburban Chicago woman who dropped out of school.
To help family during the Great Depression now has had her graduation Jubilee.
During the first week of June, at Eleanor’s 90th birthday party,
The Benz’s family presented her with a Lake View High degree,
Plus a 2009 gown and cap with a 1936 tassel.
She was as pleased as a queen, being crowned in her castle.

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