Agnes Eggleston Obituary
Agnes Chandler Eggleston, age 88, of Raleigh, NC passed away on August 1, 2025, after a long illness.
Born in Virginia Beach, Virginia on January 31, 1937, Agnes was the only child of Joseph "Scrap" Campbell Chandler Jr. and Milleretta "Millie" MacQueen Chandler. She grew up in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia. After graduating from Murray High School, Agnes attended college at William & Mary and transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. There she earned a bachelor's degree with a major in mathematics.
After college, Agnes lived in Greensboro, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., Plantation, Florida, and again in Raleigh, during retirement.
Using her training in mathematics, Agnes had a long career as a computer programmer. The field changed substantially during her career from the 1960s until the 2000s, and her versatility enabled her to work in many different programming languages and operating systems, as well as companies in a variety of fields including insurance, finance, retail, and mining.
Early in her career, she overcame instances of gender-based discrimination. As a college student, she was initially told that majoring in math was only for male students, before pressing her case and being allowed to proceed. Similarly, as a programmer at a life-insurance company, she was initially told that their actuarial-science program was only for male employees, but she persisted and prevailed. These accomplishments as a young woman laid the groundwork for her successful career.
As the mother of two children, Agnes was devoted to ensuring they received good educations and enriching opportunities. She spared no effort in advocating for them at schools, supporting them in extra-curricular and sport activities, and arranging for them to attend summer camps. Because of her love of The Arts, Agnes exposed her children to different types of museums, locally and in their travels, and escorted them to monthly musical events, such as NC Symphony.
Since childhood, Agnes treasured walks on the beach, collecting seashells, and building drip sandcastles.
Agnes loved reading and playing bridge. She was an avid stamp and postcard collector.
Throughout her adult life, her primary hobby was traveling to new places with her family. She thoroughly researched each trip. The resulting trips were meticulously constructed so that they would be as enjoyable for everyone as possible, and led to lifelong memories for her and her family.
Later in life, Agnes and her adult daughter Karen traveled together to several locations around the country. It was a valuable transition from the parent-child relationship to an adult friendship that both found very rewarding.
In her retirement, she frequently attended educational programs pertaining to art, music, literature, history, and philosophy. She also continued to travel to new and favorite places. She was fortunate enough to travel to all 50 states. She shared her love of learning with others by serving as a volunteer at the North Carolina Museum of Art.
Agnes had a dedicated group of life long girl friends from Murray High School that she kept in close contact with. A number of them gathered annually in Duck, NC. They humorously named them-selves, "The Old Squaws.". This was one of her fondest activities.
Agnes is survived by her husband, Joe Eggleston; by her daughter, Karen Minton, and her husband, Benjie Minton, of Oak Island, N.C., by her son, Ben Eggleston and Ben's wife, Laura Moriarty, of Lawrence Kansas. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren; Taylor Minton, Ben Minton and his wife Whitney Minton, and Vivian Moriarty and one great grandchild: Samuel Minton.
In honor of Agnes's life, the family asks that you consider making a memorial donation in memory of Agnes to 3HC Home Health & Hospice Care Inc., 2402 Wayne Memorial Dr. Goldsboro, NC 27534 or online at http://www.3hc.org.
