Elizabeth Cruz Aldridge

Elizabeth Cruz Aldridge went to her Heavenly Home on June 2, 2015. Elizabeth was born to Nicolas Cruz-Ayala and Ana Juarbe-Santiago in Arecibo, Puerto Rico and lived there through her high school years before moving to San Juan to attend the University of Puerto Rico. After college she moved to Norfolk, Virginia with her sister and there she met Thomas Foster Aldridge at Epworth United Methodist Church. She and Foster married and moved to Tampa, Florida where they lived for the next sixty years. In Tampa they were active members of Hyde Park United Methodist Church and Elizabeth worked about 15 years for the Hillsborough County Florida School system.

She was also a loving wife and mother. Everyone who knew Elizabeth described her as personable, compassionate, kindhearted, caring and full of life. She was bilingual, proud of her Spanish heritage and shared this in special ways with everyone she met. Elizabeth requested that the following be included when speaking of her life. “She had three lovely children, eight brothers and sisters, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. She loved the Lord, and married a great guy. Her main life was the church and her family.”

In addition to her parents, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her younger brother, Josè David Cruz-Juarbe and her sister, Ana Rosa Cruz-Juarbe. She is survived by (all of which she loved dearly) her Husband, Thomas Foster Aldridge; Children, Ruben Ashley (Carla) Aldridge, Glenda Jean (John) Argo, and Ana Elizabeth (Joe) Page; Grandchildren, Tyler Justin Aldridge, Jordan Thomas (Lindsey) Aldridge, Emily Jean Aldridge, Rachel Elizabeth Pinter, Allyson Elizabeth Argo, Sarah Kendall Argo, Joseph Eugene Page III, and Jeremy Thomas Page; Great Grandchild, Juniper Agnes Aldridge; and Siblings, Samuel Cruz-Juarbe, Lidia Esther Cruz (David) Olan, Loida Nery Cruz-Juarbe, Ruben Miguel (Milva) Cruz, Luz Celinda Cruz (Roberto) Munilla, Ana Esther Vega-Cruz; and many Nephews and Nieces.

Her burial will be at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park, Waynesville, NC on June 6, 2015 at 11:00 AM. A memorial service will be held at the Cross/Amphitheater in Lake Junaluska, NC on June 6, 2015 at 4:00 PM. (Inclement weather location: Memorial Chapel at 4:30 PM). A celebration of Elizabeth’s life will be held at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa, Florida on June 14, 2015 at 3:00 PM. Family requests donations in lieu of flowers to one of the Hyde Park United Methodist Church Scholarship Funds (500 W. Platt Street, Tampa, FL 33606), JDRF for diabetes research (www.jdrf.org) or to Lake Junaluska (Lake Junaluska, PO Box 67, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745).

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636