Ray Eldridge

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Ray “Scott” Eldridge died Nov. 2, 2005, in Yakima, Wash. due to complications of cancer. He was 67 years old.

Mr. Eldridge was born Jan. 21, 1938 in Joseph to Ray Eldridge and Marion Thorpe. He graduated from the University of Oregon, earning a bachelors degree in history and later received his masters degree from the University of Washington in social work.

He married Jo-Anne Buessow on June 13, 1959 at the Springfield Lutheran Church in Springfield. He later joined the Air Force Reserves and became an aero-medic. Over a six year period he flew to Japan and helped the bring wounded home from the Korean War. He worked for the Coos County Child Welfare Department and was also a supervisor for the Clackamas County Child Welfare Department. He later took a position as director of the Washington Children’s Home Society of Central Washington where he remained for 18 years. In 1986 he moved to Winston and worked as the director of the Adolescent Day Treatment Center.

Mr. Eldridge enjoyed fishing, clam digging, camping and mushroom hunting. He was a history buff and enjoyed playing Trivial Pursuit. He was a member of the Kiwanis and was on the board of the Hockey Association. He was also a member of Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother and stepfather Einer Thorpe. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son-in-law Cindi and Brad Johnston of Astoria, son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Christina Eldridge of Yakima, Wash., and grandsons Tyler and Spencer Johnston of Astoria.

A memorial service will be held Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Keith and Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel in Yakima, Wash. Donations can be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society through Keith and Keith Funeral Home.