Eleanor Johnson Eldredge

Eleanor Johnson Eldredge left us softly on Monday, Sept. 18, 2006. Throughout her life, her grace and good cheer created happiness and harmony in all around her. Her last days were spent in sharing her love and wisdom with her family and many friends, some lifelong and some who knew the beauty of her presence only in its sunset. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Judson Eldredge, who died in 1994. Their 54-year union was a source of warmth and strength not only to each other but also to all who knew them; indeed its gentle light continued to guide her steps and her faith until the end of her days. Eleanor was born on March 22, 1921, inBowdon, Ga. Her parents were William Thomas Johnson Jr. and Evie Lee Downs Johnson of Bowdon. A sister, Charlsie Isabelle Johnson Whatley, also preceded her in death. She is survived by a brother, George William Johnson and his wife, Evelyn, of Roswell, Ga.; a niece, Eleanor Jeanne Whatley Baldwin and husband Doug of Gainesville, Ga.; and three nephews, William Johnson, Phillip Johnson and Jeffery Johnson, all living in the Atlanta area. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Mattie Eldredge Lisenby of Atlanta; two sons and daughters-in-law, Walter Judson Eldredge and Peggy Kamman Eldredge of Baton Rouge, and Michael Paul Eldredge and Patricia Ann Goodell of Gastonia, N.C.; and three grandsons, Judson Holloway Eldredge, William Downs Eldredge and Thomas Linton Eldredge, all of Baton Rouge. Her survivors also include an extended family of Will and Sarah Snee ofCollege Station, Texas, and David, Amanda, Roger and Alexis Boyd of Baton Rouge. Eleanor was raised in Atlanta and graduated fromGirlsHigh School there. She graduated fromAtlantaJunior College, where she held offices of president and treasurer of the Baptist Student Union and of Chi Rho Sigma sorority, and vice-president of the student council and of the student body. She held a Sigma Pi Alpha honorary fraternity key and was voted both Most Representative and Most Intellectual among the student body. She then attendedEmoryUniversity and served on the faculty of the University System of Evening College of Georgia. Married Sept. 1, 1940, she interrupted her education to live with her husband inBirmingham, Ala.,Fayetteville, N.C., andWilsons, Va., while his battalion was in training. When he embarked for overseas duty, she returned to Atlanta, where she coordinated aerial surveillance activities for the Civil Air Patrol. When Paul returned from combat in Italy, they lived inAnniston, Ala., and then inWashington, D.C., where she held a position in the personnel department of the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service. After the war, they raised their two sons in Baton Rouge, where Eleanor was active with theFirstUnitedMethodistChurch and with Scouting, serving as Den Mother and as Pack Master for Cub Pack 6 sponsored by the church. She resumed her education at LSU in 1964, achieving a 4.0 scholastic record. She served on the Administrative Board of theFirstUnitedMethodistChurch, taught Sunday school and for many years volunteered weekly to help with the upkeep of membership records. In 1972-75, they resided inSomerville, N.J., where they quickly became mainstays of theMartinsvilleMethodistChurch. From 1975-78, they resided inBaytown, Texas. They returned to Baton Rouge in 1979 and resumed their active role with the church. They were energetic participants in the Grand Squares Dance Club. In later years, Eleanor was a supporter of the Pennington Foundation, WRKF Public Radio, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and Scouting. At the Baton Rouge Garden Club, she became known as "The Bird Lady" for her entertaining and informative presentations about local birds of interest. In competition, her educational exhibit "Feathered Friends" was awarded Best In State honors. In recognition of her many contributions, she was chosen for the Circle of Roses by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation. She was a charter member of the Twelfth Nighters group, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006, serving twice as president. She was also a member the Tigerland ExxonMobil Annuitants Club. She vigorously pursued genealogical activities. She traveled frequently to verify information at cemeteries, churches and courthouses. Her personal observations became a valuable reference source for other researchers. She was a member of the Genealogical Societies of Baton Rouge, ofBowdon, Ga., and ofCarroll County, Ga. She was also a member of the John James Audubon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The General Philemon Thomas Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honored her with the Bronze Medal for Good Citizenship. Pallbearers will be Judson Eldredge, William Eldredge, Thomas Eldredge, David Boyd, Roger Boyd and William Snee. Honorary pallbearers are the members of Comite Campers Inc. and of the Wedding Ring Class of the First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, N.Y. 10163. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., was on Friday, Sept. 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. until service at 11 a.m. All are invited to the graveside service at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, Airline and Jefferson highways.