Eloise A. Caldwell, of Davenport, passed away on her 90th birthday, February 25, 2023 at The Summit of Bettendorf with her family by her side. A memorial service to honor her memory will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 11am at Weerts Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at the Rock Island National Cemetery. Memorials in Eloise’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Eloise was born on February 25, 1933 to Lee Ripperton and Mildred Dostal Ripperton in Monmouth, Iowa. She graduated from Davenport High School. Eloise was united in marriage to Philip Caldwell on February 5, 1954 in Iowa City, Iowa; he preceded her in death. She was an early leader in the women’s running movement, a founding member of the Cornbelt Running Club, and held innumerable awards from hundreds of races that she ran, including thirty marathons. She ran the Pikes Peak Marathon and the very first Bix 7 race.
Those left to honor her memory are her children Joy (John) Huffman, Michael Caldwell, Beth (John) Weber, Linda (Daniel) Post, Kevin (Vicky) Caldwell, Scott (Carol) Caldwell, and Craig (Randy) Caldwell-Krizan; fifteen grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and her brother Carl (Laura) Ripperton.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip; daughter-in-law Vicky Caldwell; her parents; her sisters Marion, Nadine, Patricia, Anna, Johnette, and Julia “Judy”.