Herman Ingle Aldridge, 81, the second of six children of Luther and Tennie Ice Aldridge, was born Feb. 26, 1926, in the Tyrone/Yukon area. He died March 30, 2997, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
He attended grade school at Grandview in the Tyrone area and graduated from Cabool High School in 1945.
He worked seven years with Frisco Railroad, 14.5 years at Producers Creamery, taking two years off to farm and milk from 1952-’54, which turned out to be drought years. He later sold insurance and stocks at Progressive Security Life and obtained his real estate license, scoring the highest possible. In the mid-’70s, he sold advertising for KBTC Radio and worked for Wilbert Vault. In 1979, he bought a backhoe and dump truck to work for himself until a stroke forced an early retirement.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and looking for mushrooms, working puzzles in the winter and tending his berries and garden in the summer. He “supervised” the building at Cabool Second Baptist Church, drinking coffee in the early morning at Corner Caf/. He played pool with the guys at the Cabool Senior Center, where he was on the board of directors for more than 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Juanita Geisler and an infant, Martha Sue.
Surviving are his wife of 30 years, Carol; six children, Nelda Loyd of Rogersville, Margaret Wiltscheck of Springfield, twin boys, Garry of Ozark and Terry of Norman, Okla., Shelly Kruse of Willow Springs and Bill Combs of Park Hills; two sisters, Oneta Holloway of Springfield and Laveta Kelley of Huggins; one brother, Thurman Aldridge of Springfield; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services were April 2 at the Cabool Second Baptist Church with the Rev. David Purichia officiating. Burial was in the Cabool Cemetery under the direction of Elliott-Gentry-Carder Funeral Home of Cabool.
Memorials may be made to the Cabool Senior Center or Cabool Second Baptist Church building fund.
