Elsie Disch Eberhardt

Elsie was born on November 14, 1923, in Schwenningen am Neckar, in the Black Forest of Germany, to Anna Katharina (Kate) and Heinrich (Henry) Disch. At the age of 3 in 1926, Elsie and her parents made the long journey by ship to the United States to settle in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They lived with a family that only spoke English, so they learned their new language quickly. They joined the Lutheran church where they met many other Germans in the community.

Little did Elsie know it at the time, but she met the love of her life under the dining room table, at the age of 6! No, Lothar Carl Eberhardt, didn't steal her heart, he took her doll! She had just gotten it from her grandparents in Germany. Why would a 4-year-old boy take a doll? Carl wanted to figure out how its eyes opened and closed, something that apparently hadn't been seen before in 1930 Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, he poked the doll's eyes, and they fell in! Elsie screamed, Carl screamed, and thus began the start of their 81-year love life.

Elsie graduated from Classen High School in 1942. Her first job was at a 5 and 10 store, meaning things sold for a nickel or a dime. She fixed runners in nylons, the hosiery ladies wore. She still has the little tool about 2 inches long, half of which is a wooden handle, and the other half has a metal hook like the eye of a needle. She stretched the nylon over a form, used the hook to snag the loop of the runner, then went in and out of the runner to the end and sewed it off. After that, she went to a job that was a little more mainstream and worked as bank clerk.

World War II had already started, and many men were being drafted. Carl, now known as "Butch", graduated high school and started college at the University of Oklahoma. After a semester, he decided to enlist so he could select the Navy as his branch of the service. He made the decision to not marry before the war to keep from leaving Elsie behind as a widow. This didn't stop them from writing each other letters over the two years he was in the service. When he returned stateside to Oklahoma City, he went to Oklahoma State University and graduated with an engineering degree. After working about two months for the telephone company, Butch had enough money to purchase an engagement ring. He proposed to Elsie on August 13, 1949, and on October 15, 1949, Elsie and Butch were married. After 8 years, they were blessed with a baby girl, Katherine Ann, named after Elsie's mother who died in 1946.

Elsie was a wonderful homemaker making their home feel warm and comfortable. She had a special gift for coordinating the colors of the furniture and other decor including many cherished items from Germany. She loved the holidays and decorated for all of them, but her favorites were Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. Of course, having the relatives over to celebrate the holidays showed off her gift for hospitality. She was a wonderful mother taking Kathy to dance classes, bowling league, and girl scouts. At dance recitals, she was the mom backstage helping all the girls to get ready. Kathy's makeup kit was always well-stocked with bobby pins, safety pins, needle and thread, and hairspray! As Kathy moved to Tulsa for her first job in 1980, she and Carl remained ever ready to help out with her "new" house that needed some work or babysitting her Boxer puppy. In 2004, when Butch was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Kathy and Pete moved them to Texas. It was a joy that Michael was able to see his grandparents weekly. Grandma loved her angel! And Grandpa always had a smile when he saw Michael. Elsie continued her loving care of Butch until he passed on to heaven in 2011 a few weeks before his 86th birthday.

When people would ask Elsie how she kept going, she would say "a glass of red wine every day at happy hour, a piece of chocolate before bed, and a lot of praying". She also kept going! No matter what happened, she would keep trying. She didn't even think of herself as old until after she turned 99 when she said “now that I’m an old woman”!

We love you and miss you, but we know you are happy seeing Butch, and celebrating the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Elsie is survived by her daughter, Katherine Ann Rodriguez, and her husband, Pete Rodriguez, of Grapevine, TX, and her grandson aka her angel, Michael Matthew Rodriguez, of Grapevine, TX.

A visitation for Elsie will be held Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034. A funeral service will occur Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Peace Lutheran Church, 941 Bedford Euless Rd, Hurst, TX 76053. Her burial will take place at Rosehill Burial Park in Oklahoma City, OK, on Monday, March 24.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Elsie's positive attitude and her willingness to be there for people, please send memorials for Elsie Disch Eberhardt to Guideposts Foundation at Help Spread Faith, Hope and Prayer! - Guideposts or American Red Cross at Donate Now - Online Donations | American Red Cross