Eloise Redding Garrett

Eloise Redding Garrett, 84, died on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Funeral services will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Monday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. There will be a visitation with the family Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Eloise was born in Dubberly on Aug. 7, 1925. She grew up in various towns in Texas and Louisiana, graduated from Dubberly High School, then business school in Shreveport and began working in Minden. During World War II, she became the pen pal of John L. Garrett Jr., a Minden resident serving in the U.S. Army in Europe. They met in person upon his return from the war and were married on Jan. 5, 1946. Eloise and John made their home in Baton Rouge and their careers at LSU. Eloise worked as the secretary and bookkeeper of the Agronomy Department until her retirement in 1987 after more than 40 years of service to the university. Eloise was preceded in death by her husband, John; by her parents, Percy and Ruby Redding; by her sister, Jan Storla; and by her niece, Susan Storla. She is survived by her children, Deb Alberty and her husband, Howard, and David Garrett, and his wife, Jeanette. She was lovingly known as "Weze" to her grandchildren, Jeremy Alberty, Kristopher Alberty, Holle Whipkey, John Garrett and Patrick Garrett; and her 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her nephews and niece, Steven Storla, Randy Garrett, Jim Garrett and Lisa Burns. The grandchildren will serve as her pallbearers and honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be sent in her honor to St. James Place, 333 Lee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 or Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.