John Eldridge

John W. "Buss" Eldridge, 87, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Monday, March 7, 2011, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Aug. 10, 1923, at Chaffee, Mo., son of John and Ethel Cornell Eldridge. He and Nola Faye Sample were married June 23, 1946, in Chicago, Ill. She passed away Oct. 25, 2006.

Buss served in the U.S. Army from June 16, 1943, until Feb. 1, 1946, during World War II. He worked as superintendent of the Cape Girardeau street department for many years. He retired from the former Rose-Con Concrete Casting Co. in 1985. He was a lifetime member of Cape Girardeau VFW Post 3838. In 1963, he became a member of St. Mark's Masonic Lodge 93 in Cape Girardeau, and was master in 1977.

Loving survivors include: a son, Mark Eldridge, of Cape Girardeau; a granddaughter, Markie (Sean) Knupp of Cape Girardeau; two brothers, Arthur (Effie) Eldridge and Russell (Terry) Eldridge, both of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Toots Proffer of Cape Girardeau; three great-granddaughters; and a great-great grandson.

He was preceded in death by a son, John Michael Eldridge and a brother, Glen Eldridge.

Friends may call from 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday, at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

A Masonic service will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Interment will follow in Union Park Cemetery in Chaffee, with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Children's Hospital.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.