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JAMES W. ELDRIDGE

ELDRIDGE, James W. 84, of Pinellas Park, died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008 at 7:20 pm in Columbus, IN.

Mr. Eldridge retired from Swift and Company in Hammond, IN in 1970, then from Lever Brothers in Whiting, IN in 1989 as a chemist, where he had worked for 19 years, and was a Union Steward at Lever Brothers. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Griffith, IN, and Skyview Church of Christ in Pinellas Park.

He was an Army veteran of WWII serving with the 82nd Airborne-508th Parachute Infantry Company A. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

James was born in Huntsville, AL on Feb. 3, 1924, the son of Albert and Myrtle Schrimsher Eldridge. He married Irene Suschkewitsch on April 27, 1947.

Survivors include his wife, Irene; children, Alice Sue (Jim) Lanning, of Merrillville, IN, James Ronald (Fran) Eldridge, of Pearl River, LA, and Douglas Earl Eldridge, of Pinellas Park; brothers, Howard (Betty) Eldridge, of Connersville, IN, George T. (Lillie) Eldridge, of Seffner, and James Eldridge, of Hammond; a sister, Margie Travis, of San Pierre, IN; 8 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren. Mr. Eldridge was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister Lela Pearl Skelton.

Friends and family will be received 11 am, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008 at R. Lee Williams & Son 49th St. N Chapel. Graveside funeral services and interment will follow at 12 Noon, at Memorial Park Cemetery, 4900 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, with George Eldridge officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow. R. Lee Williams & Son 3530 49th St. N.

[Tampa Bay Times on Feb. 24, 2008]


[courtesy of Vero DiSpirito]

Grave marker for James W. Eldridge in Memorial Park Cemetery, Saint Petersburg (Pinellas county), Florida.

James enlisted in the Army at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA on 29 March 1944.

Pvt Eldridge was transferred to Company A, 508th PIR from the 11th Reinforcement  Depot on 5 March 1945.


On 23 August 1947, James and his new wife Irene (lines 22 and 23) arrived in New York City aboard the SS SS Marine Falcon after a 9 day voyage from Le Havre, France..

Irene is listed as being of Russian birth, the wife of a veteran  and able to speak Russian,  English and German.  She is listed in James' obituary as his surviving spouse.

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