Dolores Rose Eskridge

Eskridge, Dolores Rose (Del), a 45 year resident of Palos Verdes, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2009 in Rolling Hills Estates. Del was a member of St. Lawrence Martyr Church, the Palos Verdes Country Club, Los Fiestadores, Peninsula Seniors and the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She was 82.

A native of St. Louis, Mo, Del married Robert Eskridge in 1947 when he returned from World War II. While raising their family in the University City neighborhood, they fully renovated an 1890's Colonial style home, which they also used to entertain guests from the Ralston Purina Company, where Bob was a marketing pioneer. A career move brought them to Southern California in 1964. They were happily married for 49 years.

For 26 years, Del and her husband Bob operated LaVenta Inn in Palos Verdes Estates. She and their family built the business into the South Bay's premiere wedding reception venue. They refined and set the standard for wedding coordinator services, to complement the sweeping queen's necklace view of the Pacific at the Peninsula's first commercial structure.

Del inherited from her mother a love for gardening, which she mastered in between work and family, and has since passed along to two generations. Her gardens were simple, appropriate and varied, with something smart to feature in each season. The seasons of her life took the same course, transitioning smoothly and smartly from wife and mother to career woman and community leader to grandmother and great-grandmother.

Although dancing, golf and poker were certainly solid hobbies for Del, it was NFL football that captured her intense passion, initially for the Los Angeles Raiders and in later years for the San Diego Chargers. Also an avid swimmer, she is known literally worldwide for "the Del dip," a low-impact approach to aerobic exercise.

She is survived by daughter Mary (Jack) Cochran of Boulder, CO, son Rob Eskridge of Truckee, CA, daughter Susan (Tim) Vieth of Sacramento, CA, daughter Diane (Fred) Williams of Redondo Beach, CA and sister Eileen O'Brien of Atlanta, Ga. Preceded in death by father, Edward Costello, mother, Rosina Costello, husband Robert Eskridge and son William Eskridge, also survived by her six granchildren and great grandson.

The funeral Mass will be held at St. Lawrence Martyr Church on Monday, February 16, 2009 at 10:00 A.M.

Though it is not expected, in lieu of flowers those who wish may make a small donation to:

* Torrance Memorial Home Health and Hospice, 3330 W Lomita Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505.

* Juvenile Diabetes Foundation: jdf.org

* St. Anthony Foundation - stanthony.org

Cards to family should be sent to Del's house,

7 Clear Vista, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274