William Lyle Eldridge

He was born May 24, 1922 to the late Raymond and Dorothy (Dean) Eldridge in Vernal, Utah. He had three sisters who preceded him in death: Lois Ray Bailey, Winona Fay Littlefair and Dorothy Lorraine Peterson. He was also proceeded in death by his son-in-law Darl Sheasley.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1941 at the age of 17. He was with the 31st Infantry Regiment, "M" Company, 3rd Battalion stationed in the Philippines. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he was sent to the Bataan Peninsula where he was captured by the Japanese. He endured the Bataan Death March and spent 3 1/2 years as a prisoner of war. Released in August of 1945, he returned to the states to recover and then reentered the army in 1948 as a recruiter and volunteered for duty in the Korean War where he served two tours. He spent time in Japan, Germany, France and several U.S. posts. He retired in 1963. He worked as a security guard for Wells Fargo Bank.

He was a member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society and annually attended the Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, New Mexico.

He is survived by his two daughters: Bernice (Walter) Rishel of Vandergrift, PA and Marvel Sheasley of Ford City, PA. He is also survived by his 3 grandchildren: Janice (Robert) Pooley, Michael Rishel, and Jill (Randy) Snowberger; his 5 great grandchildren: Emily, Jacob, Amber, Megan and Bella; and many nieces and nephews.