Betty Lois Eldridge, affectionately known to her family as "Boppie," passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday morning January 19, 2022 in Temple Terrace, Florida where she had been residing the past month. Betty was born September 5, 1933 to Estil A Ralph and Ona M (Greer) Ralph in Whitesville, Kentucky.

Early in the 1940's her family moved to Lake County, Indiana where Betty attended McKinley and Ross Elementary, Calumet Township Jr High and Horace Mann High School in Gary, Indiana.

She excelled academically. Betty was a member of the Honor Society throughout high school and graduated with Academic and Vocational diplomas in 1951, ranking 7 in a class of 200 members. She received the Horace Mann Commerce Award, Academic Scholar of the Year Award and was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America.

On June 22, 1952 Betty was baptized into Christ at the Hessville Church of Christ in Hessville, Indiana. Soon afterward she met the love of her life, Howard Eldridge at a church event. They were married on September 1, 1956. Much work and three children soon followed. After Howard graduated from Purdue University School of Pharmacy 1960, they settled down in Griffith, Indiana buying their first home. Two years later they were blessed with their fourth and final child.

In 1964, Betty and Howard moved to Connersville, Indiana to begin a new career in business. In 1969 they purchased Grandview Pharmacy, which was consolidated from the former Elliott Hood Drug Company, 1826 N Grand Avenue and Central Pharmacy, 633 Central Avenue.

Betty was busy raising a family, working at the family businesses and helping in the church and community. She was a longtime member of the Pleasant Hour Home Economics Club, a PTA officer at Eastview and Fayette Central Elementary schools, a Cub Scout Den Leader and Vice-President of Grandview Pharmacy.

She was an accomplished seamstress, knitter, embroiderer, hat-maker, quilter, cook and farm manager. In addition to all this, as an active member of the Connersville church of Christ, she regularly taught Bible class on Sunday and Wednesday well into her 70's to dozens of children.

Her husband of 65 years, Howard, preceded her in death, her daughter Rhonda, her parents, Estil and Ona Ralph, and two brothers, Clifton and Dan. She is survived by a brother, Carrol, a sister, Janette and her three children, Ralph Eldridge (Lisa), Lori King (Jim) and Glenn Eldridge (Deidre). She is survived by eleven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be at the Connersville Church of Christ, 575 Erie Street on Saturday, January 29 beginning at 1pm. The memorial service will begin at 2:30pm, with burial to follow at Valley Grove Cemetery.

Urban Winkler Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.