Betty L. Eldridge, 97, of West Carthage, died Sunday, March 31, 2019 at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.

Betty was born on May 2, 1921 in Antwerp, the daughter of the late Charles V. and Charlotte (Crook) Cummins.  She was a 1939 graduate of West Carthage High School and a 1941 graduate of Canton ATI. She married Lloyd E. "Rip" Eldridge on April 5, 1947 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Carthage. Lloyd died on July 11, 1991. Betty worked in the stockroom and office at the former St. Regis Paper Co. in West Carthage for 10 years. She later retired from the Carthage Central School District where she was a bookkeeper for over 18 years, in 1983.

Betty was a member of the United Community Church, a former column writer for the Carthage Republican Tribune, Volunteer of the Year in 2002 for the Carthage Area Hospital Auxiliary, member of the Cedars Golf Course and she bowled for many years. Betty was the #1 fan of the Syracuse Lacrosse Teams for many years. Syracuse had a special chair for her to sit in at all the home games.

Betty would like the memory of her to be a happy one, to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done, to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. She'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun, of happy memories that she leaves when life is done.

She is survived by two daughters and two sons and their spouses: Linda and Doug Saulpaugh of Macedon, Susan and Larry Powell of Cazenovia, Kirby and Carol Eldridge of Stapleton, GA and Charlie and Tammy Eldridge of West Carthage, 13 Grandchildren, 29 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great Great Grandson. She is predeceased by a brother, Herman Cummins and a great granddaughter, Annabelle Hope Eldridge.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 4 at the United Community Church in Carthage. Calling hours at the Church will precede the service on Thursday from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, West Carthage. Memorial donations to aid in cancer research may be made to the Carthage Turkey Bowl Foundation, attention Kelly Donnelly, 116 N. James St., Carthage, NY 13619. Arrangements are with the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home.

To leave an online condolence, go to www.bezanillafh.com.