Terrence "Terry" Andrew Eastridge

Terrence (Terry) Andrew Eastridge died peacefully in his home at the age of 87 on September 22, 2021, in the loving care of his youngest daughter, Kristi. Terry was born in Warrensville, NC on April 4, 1934. He was one of five children of David (Dave) and Mildred Eastridge. When Terry was four years old the family moved to Partlow, Virginia to a farm they purchased with his grandparents, Ida Mae and Marvin Eastridge, and Uncles Dewey and Claude Eastridge. Dave and Mildred wanted a better life for their children instead of working in the West Virginia coal mines as Dave had.

Terry grew up in Partlow and graduated from Spotsylvania high school. He joined the Air Force and was stationed in Nova Scotia and in Manassas, VA as a radar technician. He later moved to Arlington and he married Lois Jean Morris and raised a family. He was a hard worker and was employed as a mechanic, as a milkman delivering bottles of milk door to door, and as a milk truck delivery driver for Embassy Dairy. After his divorce, he moved back to the farm where he bought a few acres from his parents. He drove the daily I-95 route to Springfield and back leaving at 4:30 am and returning home at 7pm, working as a diesel mechanic. He later achieved his Diesel Mechanic certification while working there full time. He was very proud of this accomplishment since it was later in life. His favorite pastime was working on cars, racing cars, watching his Uncle Clay Eastridge race at Manassas Speedway, helping work on and in the pit crew for his friend’s racecar, and watching the car races on TV. Terry was studying to be a pilot like his older brother, but once he rode a friend’s motorcycle, he stopped taking flying lessons and found a new love in motorcycles.

Terry grew up with a musical singing family, and his mother would play the ukulele while he played guitar at family gatherings. He taught himself to play the guitar and harmonica by ear. He was a member of a rockabilly band and played solo in nightclubs.

After his retirement at the age of 70 he was happy to be at home. He fed the birds and squirrels and worked in his shop. His son took him on trips to visit his mother in New Mexico and his daughters in Texas and North Carolina. He loved the airplane trips and was excited as a little kid to be flying again.

He was always in good health and strong as an ox. Even at the age of 80 he would run and play with his grandchildren in his yard. The onset of vascular dementia and a bump on the head from a fall in his shop led to his decline in health. He was a humble, caring, Christian man and he was loved and admired by all who knew him. He had a sweet countenance, a kind heart, a quick sense of humor and always had a sparkle in his eye, with a happy mischievous grin.

Terry is survived by his three children - Wendy Eastridge Gloor and husband Jay of Texas; Paul Terrence Eastridge and wife Lily of California; and Kristi Eastridge Reynolds; seven grandchildren - Kellsey Cortez and husband Alex, and Hallie and Jaycie Gloor of Texas; Leonardo and Lucas Eastridge of California; Kayla and Holly Koonce of Virginia; and three great grandchildren - Jaden, Natalie and Iris Cortez of Texas.

He is also survived by his two sisters in New Mexico, Gretchen Eastridge Dickinson and her children Ken and Keith; Frances Ann Eastridge Majors and her children Blayne, Colin, Shawn, Kimberly and Lyndee. Terry was a favorite uncle to them because of his easy-going attitude and their shared love of hot rods and motorcycles. Terry is survived by his brother Gordon’s children, Michele and Stephanie of Virginia, and great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his many cousins and the Eastridge cousins were especially close, holding “cousin lunches” and reunions through the years.

Terry is preceded in death by his parents, Dave and Mildred Eastridge, brothers Gordon and Arden Eastridge, and baby sister Joyce Angela, nephews Andy Eastridge and Kevin Dickinson, grandparents Marvin and Ida Mae Eastridge and Claudia and Robert Gordon Johnson, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

AA service will be held at Rehoboth United Methodist Church on Sunday, October 3, 2021, at 2pm. The streaming of the service may be viewed at www.facebook.com/rehobothumcva. He will be laid to rest in the church cemetery beside his mother in the Eastridge plot.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that expressions of sympathy be in the form of a monetary gift to the Perpetual Care Fund, Rehoboth United Methodist Church, 18580 Partlow Road, Beaverdam, VA 23015, in memory of our beloved father, Terry.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mullinsthompsonfredericksburg.com for the Eastridge family.