Charlene Louise Eldridge

Charlene Louise Brayton Eldridge was born February 3, 1934, in Grand Junction, Colorado. She was the second child born to Charles Brayton and Mildred Weir Brayton. Charlene passed away on October 18, 2025, at the age of 91.

Charlene grew up on their farm in New Liberty, Colorado, with her brother and sister. She attended school at the New Liberty two-room schoolhouse. The parents kept the Sunday School going (which met at the school) and saved enough money to get each child a Bible. Charlene used hers throughout her life.

When Charlene was twelve, the family moved to a farm in the Pear Park area of Grand Junction, and the family attended Pear Park Baptist Church where Charlene accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized. She attended Fruitvale Elementary and Jr. High Schools, and graduated from Central High School in 1951. Charlene attended Grand Junction Cosmetology School where she earned her beautician’s license.

Charlene met and fell in love with James “Jim” F. Eldridge, Jr., while in high school. They were married March 30, 1952, before Jim was deployed by the U.S. Air Force to Guam for eighteen months. Charlene remained in Grand Junction and worked. Jim was then stationed in Roswell, New Mexico, where he finished his Air Force service and he and Charlene had their first child, a girl. They returned to Grand Junction in 1955, where they had two sons. Charlene continued to do beautician work and helped manage the construction company they started in 1965.

After their children were raised, Charlene worked for over twenty years for the Grand Junction Welcome Wagon, where she visited newcomers to the Grand Valley. She and Jim lived in Grand Junction for the rest of their lives, where they were active in the community, the Gideon’s, and their church.

Charlene lived the last twelve years of her life at The Commons of Hilltop assisted living facility, where she continued to greet newcomers, making everyone around her feel welcome. She regularly attended church and was a member of Calvary Bible Church. Charlene was known as “the candy lady” at church because she gave children candy as she wanted them to feel welcomed and loved.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband of almost sixty-three years, Jim; son, Randy Eldridge; father, Charles Brayton; mother, Mildred Tucker; brother, George Brayton; and sister, Charlotte Scratch.

Charlene is survived by daughter, Janet Eldridge Emmons (Cole) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; son, Rick Eldridge of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren: Anne Emmons Mosler (Reed) of Grand Junction, Court Emmons of Fruita, Meghan Emmons Connell (Jaydin) of Fruita, Sara Eldridge Powers (Ryan) of Western Springs, Illinois, and Ellen Eldridge Sutherland (Reid) of Elizabeth, Colorado; and great grandchildren: Hunter Mosler and Olivia Mosler of Grand Junction, Karis Connell and Briar Connell of Fruita, and Samantha Powers and Thomas Powers of Western Springs, Illinois.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Grand Junction.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideons.org/donate.