Funeral services for H. Elridge Striedel, 85, of Livingston, Texas will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 6, 2017 in Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, Texas with Luther Bolenberker and Dan Melhus officiating. Interment will be follow in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Livingston, Texas. Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 in the Cochran Funeral Home in Livingston, Texas.

Mr. Striedel was born on August 1, 1932 in St. Paul, Texas to parents, Herman Michel Striedel and Lula Annie (Torno) Striedel, and passed away on December 1, 2017 in Livingston, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Evelyn Brown; and nephew, Ronny Box.

He graduated from Sinton High School in 1948 at age 15 having omitted the fourth and eighth grades. He started his rural electric career on the survey crew at San Patricio Electric Coop after two semesters in college. He served in the Army in Korea for two years surveying and mapping during the Korean War. Elridge was honorably discharged in 1954 at the rank of Staff Sargent second class and returned to Southwest Texas State University where he earned his BS in Industrial Arts and married his sweetheart, Lina Rae Wise, in 1957. He returned to Sinton and his work at SPECo rising to role of General Superintendent. After sixteen years at SPECo he was hired away to Sam Houston Electric Coop in Livingston as General Superintendent in 1968. At SHECo he rose to the role of Assistant to the General Manager and finally to General Manager/CEO in 1980. Elridge retired from SHECo in 2002 at age of 70 completing a 50-year career in rural electric service.

Elridge dedicated his life serving God, family and community remaining very active after his retirement. As a committed Christian, he served until his death as an elder at the Northside Church of Christ in Livingston teaching bible classes, leading a cappella congregational singing, preaching and acting as treasurer. He was committed to his loving wife, Lina Rae, for sixty years and affectionately called "Poppa" by his four children and spouses, seven grandchildren and spouses, and two great grandchildren. He served on hospital boards in Livingston and Lufkin for over thirty years serving much of the time as Chairman. He was active in the Rotary Club of Livingston and the VFW and served on the board of the First National Bank of Livingston until his death. He was an avid hunter, primarily of white tail deer.

He is survived by his wife, Lina Striedel of Livingston, Texas; son, James Elridge and wife, Sherry of Needville, Texas; daughter, Penne Jo Woodard and husband, Raymond of Beaumont, Texas; daughter, Sharra Sue Tope and husband, Scott; daughter, Laresha Lynn Bradford and husband, Justin of Springfield, Virginia; grandsons, Jeffrey Gordon Striedel of Allen, Texas and Kevin Elridge Striedel of Ft. Worth, Texas; granddaughters, Aubrey Rachelle Menne and husband, Robus of Hillcrest, South Africa, Jessica Nicole Martin and husband, Eric of Beaumont, Texas, Aryssa Wentink of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, Ariel Rae Westbrook and husband, Mark of Wichita, Kansas, and Karen Linarae Bradford of Springfield, Virginia; great-grandson, Trey Desoto Martin of Beaumont, Texas and Atlas Maximus Westbrook of Wichita, Kansas; sister-in-law, Linda Mae Cave of Aurora, Colorado; and nephew, Mitchell Clay Box and wife, Alice of Beeville, Texas; along with numerous other relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at CHI St. Luke's – Livingston and Lufkin; the doctors, nurses and caregivers at The Bradford, as well as the sitters that kept him company during his last days.

Pallbearers: Curtis Smith, Jeffrey Striedel, Kevin Striedel, Gerald Fagan, Jimmy Bolton, David Reel

Honorary Pallbearers: Sam Houston Electric Employees, First National Bank Board Members, Church Street Financial Employees, Hospital Committee Members

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com