Maxine Helen Eldridge

Maxine Helen Garford Eldridge, 91, of Elyria, passed away peacefully at The Keystone Pointe Health and Rehabilitation Center on Sunday, January 16, 2011. She was born February 21, 1919, in Elyria, where she remained a lifelong resident.
Before retiring in 1995, Maxine had been executive legal secretary to the Fauver, Tattersall and Gallagher Law firm. During her long career, she had held the same position with the firm of Stith, Daley and Butler and, before that, was secretary to the Mayor of Elyria. She was a longtime member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elyria.
Maxine was known for her devotion to her children and grandchildren, her career, the community and her many friends. As a passionate golfer, she had been a member of Oberlin Golf Club, serving as president at the age of 81. Until recently she had been an enthusiastic member of a number of local Bridge Clubs and was a leader of the Elyria Womans Club, local chairman of the Republican Committee to Re-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was selected Outstanding Woman of the Year in the 1950s. She was a graduate of Elyria High School and Oberlin Business College.
Survivors include daughters, Connee (David) Smith of Elyria and Ann (John) Spang of Ocala, Florida; son, Ted Eldridge of Savannah, Georgia; granddaughters, Amanda Eldridge of Bowling Green, Ohio, Rachel Burman of Kansas City, Missouri, Kate Eldridge of San Diego, California, Beth Burman of Ft. Myers, Florida and Maggie Smith of Cleveland, Ohio; grandson, Staff Sergeant Adam Smith (USMC) (Holly, nee Elek) of Jacksonville, North Carolina; great-grandsons, Jack and Benjamin Smith of Jacksonville, North Carolina; and close family friend, Janice Arthrell Haywood of Elyria.
Friends will bereceived Thursday, January 20, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of an 11:00 a.m. service at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, corner of Garford and Princeton Avenues, Elyria. Family friend, Pastor Laurie A. Miller, will officiate. Burial will be in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Elyria.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Life Hospice, 5255 North Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035 or Christ Lutheran Church, 4501 Clinton Avenue, Lorain, OH 44055.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Dicken Funeral Home of Elyria. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com.

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