Edna Eldridge

Edna B. Eldridge, 84, a resident of Roanoke and formerly of Schenectady, New York, passed away at 9:20 p. m. on Friday, July 10, 2015, at her home. Although she had been in declining health, she had been more seriously ill for the past two weeks. Mrs. Eldridge was born on July 19, 1930 in Sycamore, Illinois, the only child of Alfred Ludwig and Gertrude Marcia (Driscoll) Butzow. She completed her high school education at St. Katharine's High School in Davenport, Iowa, and graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1951 with a double major in French and Spanish. She had lived most of her adult life in Schenectady, New York until moving to Roanoke in 2008. Born with a creative gift, she had been employed in publishing, real estate, and also worked as a legal secretary at Northwestern University. However, her passion was interior design, and she was self-employed as a designer for many years. Her creative expression also included being a Master Gardener, designing her own home in Roanoke, being an expert at crossword puzzles, and also a gifted linguist. In the summer of 1982 she was married to Thomas S. Eldridge. He preceded her in death in 1988. The surviving relatives include her children Cynthia ("Rick") Wilson of Roanoke, Lisa (Guy) Walker of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Richard (Patricia) Bickle of Summerland, Calif; four step-children Alexander, Benjamin, Thomas, and Elizabeth Eldridge; eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-granddaughter. A celebration of her life will be held from 2 to 6 p. m. Sunday, July 19, 2015, at her home in Roanoke. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Visiting Nurse & Hospice, 5910 Homestead Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46814; or Roanoke Public Library, P. O. Box 249, Roanoke, IN 46783. Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements. *********************************