Mr. Claude Franklin Eldridge, age 85, of Elkin, NC, and formerly of Raleigh passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at the Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson, NC. Mr. Eldridge was born August 9, 1925, in Forsyth County to Thurmond and Diana Robertson Eldridge. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Cathey L. Eldridge; brothers, James, TM, and Alvin Eldridge; five sisters, Ruth Shoemaker, Bea Conrad, Nell Bates, Louise Bunton, and Essie Tolliver. He is survived by his four children, Beth Eldridge of Roanoke, Va., Tom Eldridge and wife Cathy of Raleigh, NC, Matt Eldridge of Elkin, and Laura E. Weatherman of Elkin; Five grandchildren, Mackenzie, Alex, and Thomas Eldridge of Raleigh, Jordan Eldridge of Elkin, and Adam Weatherman of Cary, NC. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Deanie Eldridge of North Wilkesboro, and various cousins, nieces, and nephews in Hickory, North Wilkesboro, Fuquay-Varina, and the Washington, DC area; also special friends Dallas & Priscilla Nance, and Graham & Fran Greene. Claude interrupted his high school education in Elkin to enlist in the US Navy during WW II and served in the South Pacific aboard the Light Cruiser USS Boise CL-47. After discharge from the Navy in June 1945, he returned to Elkin High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball and graduated in 1947. He went on to continue his education at Appalachian State University, playing football and baseball and graduating with a BS degree. Later in life he furthered his education by earning a Masters Degree from North Carolina State University in 1973. Mr. Eldridge was a Geometry Teacher, Varsity Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, Administrator, and Mentor at Elkin High School from 1952 until 1966 when he moved his family to Raleigh to work with the NC Dept. of Public Instruction as a consultant in the Trade & Industrial Education Department. He and his family moved back to Elkin in 1973 when he took a job as the Director of Vocational Education with the Surry County School System and remained with the school system until his retirement in 1985. During his career he was the recipient of numerous civic and educational awards including Elkin Jaycee Young Man of the Year, Lion of the Year from the Elkin Lions Club, and the Governor's Award for Excellence in Volunteering. Claude loved life, his church, his family, the Town of Elkin, and especially Elkin High School. He was an avid supporter of Elkin High School Athletics. In January 2006 the Elkin School Board and Elkin High School honored Mr. Eldridge as they dedicated the basketball court at Elkin High School as Claude Eldridge Court. During retirement he was an active beekeeper and gardener. Claude loved community service and was very active in the Elkin Lions Club, First Baptist Church of Elkin, the GED Program at Elkin High School, and Surry County Beekeepers. He was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Elkin, serving in various capacities including Deacon, Finance Committee, Sunday School Superintendent & Sunday School teacher. The Eldridge family would like to express their appreciation to the employees and staff at Hugh Chatham Nursing Center in Elkin, and the Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson, NC. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 16, 2011, at First Baptist Church in Elkin, with Dr. Bill Johnson and Joe Dell Rust officiating. The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM Friday, April 15, 2011 at Elkin Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Elkin High School, 334 Elk Spur St., Elkin, NC 28621, Appalachian State University, PO Box 32025, Boone, NC 28608, First Baptist Church of Elkin, PO Box 618, Elkin, NC 28621, or Elkin Lions Club, PO Box 647, Elkin, NC 28621.
