St. Clair County Obits

Dwayne L. Eldridge

Springfield News-Leader
3 June 2007

D'Wayne L. Eldridge, Springfield, Mo., died June 2, 2007.
D'Wayne was born April 19, 1932, in Osceola, Mo. He married his high school sweetheart, Venita Harris, on October 22, 1950.  D'Wayne moved his young family to Springfield, Mo. in 1959, where he worked for Burroughs Corporation as a banking machine technician for 36 years.
From an early age he was gifted at repairing mechanical equipment. At the age of fourteen he made a lawn mower, one of the first in Osceola, by adding various parts to a gasoline washing machine motor. For years he restored Studebakers and was active in the Ozark Trails Studebaker Club.
He became a follower of Jesus shortly after he and Venita were married. He taught Sunday School for more than 50 years, the last 25 years with the Harmony Class at Second Baptist Church, Springfield. He loved God's Word and was an excellent Bible study teacher. He served his church in many volunteer capacities,
including deacon, usher, and video camera operator. He helped fix and maintain equipment around the church,
and he was a strong supporter of mission programs.
He was known throughout the community for his servant spirit, doing house repairs and odd jobs for widows
and many others. Always putting others before himself, D'Wayne was the consummate servant leader. D'Wayne is preceded in death by a son, D'Wayne Logan Eldridge, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Venita; his son, Daryl Eldridge and wife, Carole, Springfield, Mo.; daughter, Marla Kundey and husband, Gary, Columbus, Ga.; and two grandchildren, Melinda Davis and husband, Matthew, Houston, Texas, Mark Eldridge and fiance, Leigha Caldwell, Arlington, Texas.
He is also survived by a brother, Stanley Eldridge and wife, Peggy, Osceola, Mo.; a sister, JoAnne Mick, Springfield, Mo.; three half-sisters, Cordelia Bates, Oklahoma City, Okla., Doris Hammerson Stockton, Calif., and Mary Beth Greathouse and husband, J.V., Osceola, Mo.; and many other extended family members.
The memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, in Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., with the Rev. John M. Edie officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, in the Osceola Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 4, in Second Baptist Church and 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, in the Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home, Osceola, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the D'Wayne Eldridge Servant Leadership Fund at Rockbridge Seminary, 3111 E. Battlefield, Springfield, Mo.; Second Baptist Church Missions; or the Community Hospice of Springfield. Arrangements are by Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home, Osceola, MO.