Donald Ellis Woolridge 1925 - 2002

WHALEN, WOOLRIDGE, DAWSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/15/2015 at 09:46:12

Sioux City Journal
24 July 2002

Donald Ellis Woolridge, 76, of Sioux City went missing Oct. 11, 2001, and was found five miles north of Blair, Neb., in July 2002.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Don Cameron officiating. There will be a lunch following the service in the church basement. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Bluff View Cemetery, Vermillion, S.D., with military rites conducted by American Legion Monahan Post 64. There will be no visitation. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Mr. Woolridge was born Feb. 16, 1925, in a farm near Ida Grove, Iowa, the son of James and Margaret (Whalen) Woolridge. He went to country school through the eighth grade. He graduated from Ida Grove High School with a teacher's training certificate to teach grade school.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served in the Army during World War II. He contracted rheumatic fever and received a medical discharge from the service.

He attended the University of South Dakota from January 1946 to May 1950 and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education.

He married Marilyn Dawson on June 15, 1952, in Vermillion. He was employed with Ben S. Noble Lumberyard in 1950 until it closed in 1954. He then continued employment at Battle Creek (Iowa) High School from 1954 to 1964. He then moved to Sioux City and taught at West Junior High School from 1964 to 1985, when he retired from teaching.

He worked part time at United Rent All from 1965 to 1969, when that business was sold. He transferred with the new owners, named Soo Rent All, and continued employment with them from 1969 to 1972. From there he went to Dick and Bill's TV, working part time from 1972 to 1975, when he took over the TV shop and turned it into Don and Bob's TV, working part time from 1975 until 1995, when he decided to close the shop. At that time he had already started working at the Siouxland YMCA in the School Age Childcare Program, working there from 1988 to 2000, when he again retired.

He was a hard worker and usually held more than one job at a time. He lived in Sioux City for more than 38 years.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, American Legion Monahan Post 64, Odd Fellows, NSEA and the NEA. He enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, reading, any and all sports, especially football and basketball, and in his younger days, riding his motorcycle.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; a daughter and her husband, Pamela and Carlos Perez of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Jeffrey and Jayna of Sioux City; a grandson, Connor Ian of Sioux City; an older brother, Harold Woolridge of Ida Grove; and an older sister, Ida May Lohafer of Fort Dodge, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother, Richard Woolridge.

Honorary pallbearers will be Gordon Hull, Gene Linkvis, Vern Sneller, Don Esch, Larry Mahacek and Harvey Stokes.

Memorials in his name may be directed to Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with an organization to be determined at a later date