Elmond Lowell Claridge

Elmond Lowell Claridge, aged 97, passed away on Wednesday, the 3rd of September 2014, in Houston. Elmond was born on the 5th of June 1917, in Delaplaine, Arkansas, to the late Elmond Lee and Irene Gates (Compton) Claridge.

Elmond graduated from Soldan High School, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1935; from the University of Missouri, Rolla, with a BS and MS in Chemistry in 1939 and 1941, respectively; and from the University of Houston with a PhD in Chemistry in 1979. He was a member of the following Technical Societies: SPE, A.I.Ch.E, Canadian Petroleum Society, API, ACS, AAAS, Sigma Xi, Alpha Chi Sigma. Honors achieved during his lifetime are: Society of Petroleum Engineer Pioneer in Enhanced Oil Recovery, St. Luke's United Methodist Church's Distinguished Life Award, and Honorary Membership Award from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (the SPE's highest award).

Elmond was a Research Chemist with Shell Oil Company 1941 until 1979. Following his career at Shell, which lasted from 1979-1991, he was an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston, where he was in charge of the Graduate Program in Petroleum Engineering. In this role, he secured research funding from industry and government agencies, enlarged the number of courses from seven to twenty-two, and published research papers. He also secured about ten patents with Shell during his career.

He is predeceased by his brother, Basil Compton; and sister, Marion; two wives, Zola Ruth McDowell and Mary Moore; and son David Claridge. He is survived by his wife, Claire North Patterson; son Jonathan Claridge (Lynne); daughter-in-law, Martha Wasley Claridge; step-children, Jesse Patterson, David Patterson (Karinne), Karen Duke (Ted), Sue Wasik (Mark); thirteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces, Gail and Cyndi Compton

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from three until five o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 7th of September, in the drawing room of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 8th of September, in the chapel of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road, where the Executive Pastor, Dr. Linda Christians, and the Reverend Jeremy Woodley, Assistant Minister at First United Methodist Church, Missouri City, are to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family in a reception to be held in the Hines Baker Room.

The interment is to follow, via an escorted cortege, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Organ Fund, 3471 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77027.