Eloyce M. Caldwell was born, on her grandparent’s (“McGee’s”) farm near Canby, MN, August 27, 1922 to Harold P. and Anna V. (Groenhoff) McGee. She was the second oldest of five children: Dwight, Eloyce, Kerry, Jack & Sally); she passed away in Ojai, CA November 12, 2012 she was 90 years young.
The depression years were tough on the McGee family and Eloyce was always working pulling her share. She worked for other families and as a phone company switch board operator. In 1940, she graduated from Ames High School in Iowa and attended Iowa State before moving to Phoenix, Arizona in 1942. There she met Air Force pilot, Charles H. Caldwell. They were married in Colorado Springs, CO, May 31st, 1944 just before his European tour of duty flying B-24s in the 8th Air Force. Their union produced three sons Charles ‘Jim’, Michael and Joseph Caldwell.
While Charles was overseas Eloyce moved to his home town of Avila (Beach) Calif. and worked at Camp San Luis. After the War, Eloyce & Charles made Avila home until 1958 when the family moved to Ventura.
Eloyce worked in the library at Ventura College for 25 years, retiring in 1984. She was an avid reader with a wonderful mind for quoting an abundance of Shakespeare, poems, and songs. Watching Jeopardy and answering the questions was one of her joys. She loved playing bridge and going to the Campus View Pool. She always enjoyed working the election polling places. Eloyce & Charles spent many of their vacations taking the boys camping and fishing in the Sierras and other places in California. Many Thanksgivings were spent in the Panament Mountains, trailer camping, with friends and family. Retirement was full with several trips to Europe on WW II reunions and sightseeing. One memorable summer was spent with brother Dwight and wife Rose caravanning house trailers in Alaska. Eloyce survived breast cancer in 1980. She moved to Ojai in 2009 to live with her son, Michael and family before moving to the Manor of Ojai whose staff gave Eloyce wonderful care.
Eloyce was preceded in death by her husband Charles in 2011; sons: Joe in 1969 and Charles ‘Jim’ in 2009; brother: Jack McGee in 1999; sisters: Kerry McGee in 1976 and Sally Deregibus in 1995; father Harold in 1960 and mother Anna in 1985.
Eloyce now leaves behind daughter-in-law Judy (widow of ‘Jim’); their children Amy Tromans (Paul), Michael A. Caldwell (fiancé Dawn Sandberg), and Megan Caldwell; great granddaughter, Ada Tromans and great grandson, Jude Tromans all of Ventura; son: Michael D. (Joanne) Caldwell, and granddaughter, Kerry Jo Caldwell of Ojai; her older brother Dwight McGee (wife Rose) of Phoenix, AZ and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, November 17, 2012 in the chapel at Charles Carroll Funeral Home, 15 Teloma Dr. Ventura, 93003. Burial at Ivy Lawn will be held Monday Nov. 19th.
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