Geraldyne Jerry M. Crosby Eslinger

Geraldyne Margaret Eslinger (she was always known as Jerry) of Edmond, OK, was born on 18 January 1917 to Kenner & Bessie Crosby in Lutie, Texas. She had an older sister, ReeBerta, who was three at the time. When she was five months old her mom was stricken with the flu and died. Kenner was left with two small children; ReeBerta was raised by her maternal grandparents in Wellington, Texas, and Jerry was sent to Oklahoma City to be raised by her paternal grandparents. She attended Sooner school when it was a one room school house. She then attended Texas Tech and OU. She met Earl Eslinger at First Baptist Church and they married 18 January 1942 in Waco, Texas. They had two children, Greg and Nikki. Greg was born with cerebral palsy and Jerry was determined to raise him to be a productive citizen, which he was until his death in October 1971. Jerry helped form the United Cerebral Palsy. Jerry worked for the state banking department for 17 years. She retired in 1982 and was a “pink lady” at Baptist Hospital delivering flowers. She loved to travel and to garden. Nikki married Rick Stricklin in 1965 and they had two children, Jeff and Heather. Jerry is survived by her daughter Nikki, son-in-law Rick, two grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.