Omar Eldredge, 81, passed from this life on Dec. 6, 2006, at his home in Jerome, Idaho. He was born in Carey, Idaho, on May 23, 1925. Omar was the middle child of 11 born to Forrest and Vivian Cross Eldredge. He grew up in Carey, Idaho. Omar married Pauline Chapin on Jan. 17, 1951, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Twin Falls, Idaho. They started their married life in Carey.
Omar worked for the Idaho Department of Transportation for 31.5 years, retiring in 1984. He was the man who was out plowing snow in the middle of the night. After retiring, Omar and Pauline remained in the Wood River Valley until 2002 when they moved to Jerome. Omar enjoyed gardening, mowing his lawn and going south in the winter months. Omar and Pauline are the proud parents of five children.
Omar is survived by his wife of 55 years, Pauline; four children, Barry Eldredge of Coos Bay, Ore.; Michelle (Jerry) Beall of Bellevue, Idaho; Brent Eldredge of Richfield, Idaho; Ruth (Tom) Mattix of Veradale, Wash. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one due in February; six siblings, Mary Stanger of Idaho Falls, Jeanine (Red) Keller of Irwin, Idaho, Allen (Ann) Eldredge of Jerome, Burl (Betty) Eldredge of Wendell, Keith (Marie) Eldredge of New Burn, Tenn., Julia (Karl) Ward of Jerome; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Kevin Eldredge; his brothers, Gail, Willard and Clifton; and his sister, Esther.
Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, at Farnsworth Mortuary Chapel, 1343 South Lincoln, in Jerome. Graveside services were conducted at 1:30 p.m., following the funeral service, at the Bellevue, Idaho, Cemetery, Chestnut Street, in Bellevue. A visitation will be held Monday evening, Dec. 11, 2006, at Farnsworth Mortuary, where family and friends may call from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and again on Tuesday one hour prior to the service.
