Janet Eldred

ELDRED, Janet
Kalamazoo Passed away on March 27, 2015 in Kalamazoo. Janet was born in 1929 to Edward C. and Anna McDowell Johnson. She lived most of her life in the Kalamazoo area. She attended South Westnedge Elementary School and had many fond memories of the friends and teachers there. She always loved music and played the violin in the Kalamazoo Little Symphony Orchestra, which was renamed the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra at a later date. Upon graduating from Central High School in 1947, she spent the next 3 years in nurses training at Bronson Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1950, having earned her RN diploma. Since then she has kept in contact with many of her classmates who were like "sisters". In 1951, she was married to Grant Eldred while he was in the Air Force during the Korean War. She worked at hospitals in San Antonio, Texas, Washington D.C. and Detroit, MI while Grant was in the Service, then at Bronson Hospital upon returning to Portage when Grant was honorably discharged. Early in Grant's teaching career he started the Top Hat Cricket Farm business where Janet played an important role, becoming known as the "Cricket Lady". They had 2 boys, David and Dale to whom she was extremely devoted. She loved her family dearly and was particularly happy when her grandsons were born. Janet leaves behind her son, David Jean of Portage and their 3 sons, Bob, Tom and Charlie, and her son Dale Glenys of PA, also several cousins, many friends including the mall walkers. Preceding her in death were her father and mother, husband Grant in 2005, brothers Doug and Kenny Johnson and her first grandson, Alan Edward Eldred who died of SIDS at 2 months. A visitation is planned for Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave. beginning at 9:30 AM, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM with Pastor Greg Wood, officiating. Interment will follow at South Portage Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, Pathfinder Church of Portage, the SIDS Foundation, Hospice of Greater Kalamazoo or a charity of your choice.