Jack Eldridge

Jack Page Eldridge was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 25, 1925, to Lewis Harry Eldridge and Sarah Edna Marcroft Eldridge. He graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City, was ordained an Elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and then joined the Army Air Corps in 1943. He served as a navigator on a B-24 Liberator bomber stationed in Italy during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service. Before deployment to Italy, he was trained in Houston, Texas, where he met his future bride, Erika Anne Hausenstein. He returned to Houston from Italy in April 1945, and married Erika on May 12, 1945. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Washington D.C. Temple in 1984, 18 months after Erika's untimely death in November 1982.



Starting in Autumn of 1945, he attended the University of Utah, and graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1949. He worked briefly for Schlumberger, and then for the rest of his career worked for Continental Emsco in Houston, Texas. He joined the Air Force Reserve around 1951, continuing his Military service for a total of 27 years, obtaining the rank of Colonel. His reserve service was at Ellington Air Force Base, near Houston. During this time, he was called to serve his country during the Korean conflict, the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam war, and for many humanitarian missions.



He served as a Temple Ordinance Worker in the LDS Dallas, Temple for over 20 years, and in the Family History Center of the LDS Plano, Texas Stake for many years. He loved watching football, photography, and spending time on his computer.



He generously helped other individuals in need. Jack also enjoyed traveling by car to many events, including family visits as recently as July 2011, Air Force and Emsco reunions, genealogy research trips, etc. He was a wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. We shall all miss him.



He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Erika, and her parents (Erich and Anna Hausenstein of Houston). He is survived by his two daughters, Susan Cason and her husband, Stan, of Irving, Texas, and Kathy Placke and her husband, Mike, of Plano, Texas, and one son, David P. Eldridge and his wife, Linda, of Lehi, Utah. He is also survived by sixteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and two nieces.



The family will receive friends at a visitation on Wednesday September 7, 2011 from 7-9 PM at Allen Family Funeral Options 2120 W. Spring Creek Pkwy Plano, TX. 75023. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM Thursday September 8, 2011 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 2401 Legacy Drive Plano, TX. 75023. The family will receive friends at the church from 9:30 - 10:30 AM. The committal service will be held at 2:30 PM at Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery with full military honors.