Roll Call Tribute

Jack Hill "Tank" Eldridge, Col. USAF (Ret) 

January 26, 1948 - September 29, 2024 

Jack “Tank” Hill Eldridge was born January 26, 1948 in San Tome, Venezuela at the Mene Grande Oil Co. Hospital to Brantley and Christine Eldridge and peacefully went to be with the Lord on September 29, 2024. He was 76.

Jack was a 1966 graduate of South Park High School in Beaumont, TX where he was head cheerleader and excelled at his studies. He was also a 1970 graduate of Texas A & M University in College Station where he earned his Bachelor’s degree and then later he earned his Masters at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX.

He also was a teacher at Hebert High School in Beaumont from 1974-1976.

He started his military career in June of 1969 and traveled the world while in the service including assignments in Belgium, Iceland and Saudi Arabia. He worked communications during in the Gulf War, Desert Storm.

He retired in 2001 as a full bird Colonel, then went on to teach calculus at Alamo Community College (Northeast Lakeview College). During his time teaching, he was Faculty Senate President in addition to leading the Calculus sequence of courses. He was also the “Distinguished Lecture Series” presenter.

He loved bowling and was on a league for most of his life. His most recent league team was with his youngest son, Jeremy and daughter in law, Stacy and last season they won first place. He said that was the first time he has ever been on a first-place team in his 60 plus years of bowling.

He also loved riding his Harley Davidson and was a proud member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. He first joined the CVMA when they lived in San Antonio and belonged to the Chapter 23-3 and later when they moved back to Nederland, he joined the local Chapter 23-13. He considered all of them family and enjoyed every minute of it.

Jack married Marilyn on October 20, 1977 and together they traveled the world for his assignments in the service and eventually moved to San Antonio after his retirement in 2001 and stayed there until July 2023 when they moved to Nederland to be closer to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jack touched so many lives in his time here, whether it be in his 32 years in the service, bowling or teaching his students.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 47 years, Marilyn. Son, Doug Eldridge and wife, Terri (Nederland) Jeremy “Bubba” Eldridge and fiancé Stacy (Vidor), and Doug and Bubba’s half -sister Amanda Gutierrez and husband, Mike (Pt Arthur) Siblings Brantley Eldridge, Jr (San Antonio) and Christy Jones and husband Tim (Canyon Lake) Grandchildren: Gage Eldridge (Nederland) Madison Eldridge (Nederland) Alexis Eldridge (Groves) Caden Eldridge (Springfield, MO) Shea Wilkerson (Vidor) Bradley Fant (So. Carolina) Dylan Gutierrez (Pt. Arthur) Great-grandchildren: Cooper Daughrity, Everlee Lane, Maverick Janeaux, Gabriel Eldridge, Azrael Eldridge, Lillian Eldridge: Nieces & Nephews: Debra & Dave DeMartini, AJ DeMartini, Miranda DeMartini, Kaleb Jones, Harrison & Ana Jones, Stephen & Nahara Eldridge

He is preceded in death by his parents and his grandchildren Ronnie Eldridge and Brittnie Eldridge-Adaway.

The family would like to thank Victor, Jennifer and Tamara from Heart to Heart Hospice for their wonderful care and compassion in the short time that we had them with us.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that if you would like to make a donation to either of these organizations in Jack (Tank’s) memory:

CVMA Local Chapter 23-13 https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YBMFWESURJNKC 

CVMA Chapter 23-3 San Antonio Pay CVMA 23-3 using PayPal.Me 

American Cancer Society

No services are scheduled at this time. The family plans to hold a celebration of Jack's life at a later date.