This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WHL44 Surnames: ELDRIDGE, THISTON, EMERY, PACE, RICHARDS, SAUER, BLACKBURN Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.kalamazoo/22801/mb.ashx Message Board Post: ELDRIDGE, Lester "Les" Lester "Les" Eldridge, 65, of Ceresco passed away on Thursday, May 8, 2008, at Oaklawn Hospital. Les was born on July 15, 1942, in Indianapolis, Indiana to E. Grant and Thurby (Thixton) Eldridge. He graduated from Three Rivers High School, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving from 1960-1963. Les sailed on the Reclaimer and was part of the nuclear testing on Christmas Island. On April 17, 1981, he married Barbara Emery in Kalamazoo. Les managed the auto body shop at Seeley Ford in Kalamazoo for many years, and he later moved to Traverse City and managed Grand Traverse Auto. He retired in 2000. Les was an accomplished painter with a great eye for small details in every job. He was an avid outdoors man and enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, and golf. He loved his family and especially enjoyed the time spent with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Barbara of Ceresco; two daughters, Jamie Eldridge and Carol (Scott) Pace all of Kalamazoo; two sons, Jeff (Mary) Richard! s of Lowell and Jason (Andrea) Richards of Grand Rapids; five grandchildren, Dustin and Dawn Eldridge, Jeffery Michael, Lily, and Avery Richards; great-granddaughter Ivory Eldridge; two sisters, Dolores (Elmer) Sauer of Palmetto, Florida, and Thurby (Bill) Blackburn of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is also survived by close extended family, mother and father Marie and Ernie Jones of Albion; sisters, Joann (Beau) Godde of Marshall, Betty (Butch) Gibbs of Albion, and Gayle (Garry) Weaver of Homer, and a brother Gary Emery of Mesick, Michigan and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers E. Grant Jr., Robert, and Mark Eldridge, and a sister LaDonna Eldridge. A memorial service will take place at the Marshall United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 1:30PM with Reverend Len Schoenherr officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Marshall United Methodist Church, Calhoun County Humane Society, or to Oaklawn Hospital.! Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Funeral Home. Lea ve a personal message for the family and sign the online guest book at www.kempffuneralhome.com Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 5/11/2008. (Posted by a VOLUNTEER-NO family connection) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.