Colonel W. James Eldred

Colonel W. James Eldred, M.D., F.A.C.S. March 7, 1923 - August 12, 2006 Resident of Orinda Beloved husband of Yolanda Eldred; devoted father of Mary Lee Schaffarzick, Dina Fiatarone, Juliet Montagnon, James Eldred, and Roxanne Wieber; and cherished grandfather of 11 grandchildren and one great grandson. He is predeceased by his son, Charles Eldred. Dr. Eldred was born in Palo Alto, graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1941, and attended UC Berkeley. He served in the Army in the Philippines during WWII. He graduated from Long Island College of Medicine in 1950 and did his residency in San Francisco, training in thoracic surgery under Dr. Paul C. Samson. Dr. Eldred practiced thoracic surgery in Contra Costa County. He reentered the Army in 1978 and served five years at Fort Hood, TX. He returned to California where he rejoined the National Guard. He worked for the Veterans Hospital in Yountville and the Military Entrance Processing Station in Oakland, and at Moffett Field until December, 2005. Dr. Eldred was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a founding member of the Samson Thoracic Surgical Society, now known as the Western Thoracic Surgical Association. He served as president of the Tuberculosis Society's local chapter. He also toured Russia with the People to People Program in 1992. Dr. Eldred was a scoutmaster of Orinda Boy Scout Troop 237. His hobbies were tennis, archery, horseback riding, and raising champion Bouviers des Flandres. Dr. Eldred touched many lives with his gentle compassion and unique sense of humor. Friends and family are invited to a Vigil on Thursday, August 17, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at Oak Park Hills Chapel, 3111 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, and a Funeral Mass on Friday, August 18, at 10:00 a.m. at Santa Maria Catholic Church, 40 Santa Maria way, Orinda. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society or Boy Scouts of America. OAK PARK HILLS CHAPEL 925-934-6500