Obituary - L. Elmo Eldridge Sr.

L. Elmo Eldridge Sr., 92, passed away on Sept. 19, 2012, in Lewiston.

Elmo was born April 23, 1920, in Seltice, Wash., to William Whipple Eldridge and Bertha Mae Jones-Eldridge. He grew up near Tekoa and Spokane. In 1940 he married Marjorie Faye Chase of Tekoa. Soon after their marriage, Marjorie and Elmo moved to Kendrick, where they raised three children, Leonard E. Eldridge Jr., David E. Eldridge and Janet F. Eldridge.

Elmo began working with Northern Pacific Railroad at the age of 18 and worked as the section foreman for the NP and BN line between Troy and Arrow for 42 years. He retired from the railroad in 1980. He belonged to the Masonic lodge in Kendrick and was a Free Mason for over 60 years.

Elmo loved the outdoors, was an avid fisherman and hunter, and for many years he enjoyed camping with Marjorie and their friends. He also enjoyed woodworking, fishing, hunting, gardening, picking huckleberries and Mariners baseball.

Brothers Deane Eldridge and Harlan Eldridge, sister Dorothy Eldridge, and daughter Janet Faye Eldridge-Olsen preceded him in death. He is survived by Marjorie, his wife of 72 years; sons Leonard and Diane Eldridge of Clarkston, and David and Bobbie Eldridge of Stanwood, Wash.; son-in-law Jay Olsen of Wilder, Idaho; nephew and hunting partner Richard and Julie Zimmerman of Oakesdale; grandchildren Jennifer Eldridge of Clarkston, Kenneth Eldridge of Evergreen, Colo., Jeffery Eldridge of Edmonds, Wash., Jonathan Eldridge of Ashland, Ore., James Eldridge of Arlington, Wash., Sven Olsen of Luntana, Texas, Janelle Devera of San Diego, Calif., and Galen Olsen of Morrisville, N.C.; and 11 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens, 3521 Seventh Ave, Lewiston. Family and friends are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in Elmo's name to the charity of your choice.

Lewiston Tribune, September 21, 2012, p. 7C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock

---