Paul Frank Eskridge, 84, of Petersburg, died Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002, at Grant Memorial Hospital.
He was born Feb. 14, 1918, in Petersburg, a son of the late Santford Eskridge and Lula B. Keplinger Eskridge.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Ruth Eskridge Hedrick; two brothers, Norwood Eskridge and Virgil Eskridge; three half sisters and two half brothers.
He opened the first sporting goods store in Petersburg in 1954. He became manager of Sites Restaurant in 1965 and later he and his wife, Mable, owned and managed Sites Restaurant from 1985 through December 2000. He was a member of Grove Street United Methodist Church.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a life member of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International, a charter member of Petersburg Lions and a member of Petersburg Volunteer Fire Company.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Mable V. Sites Eskridge; two sons, Donald K. Eskridge of Petersburg, and David K. Eskridge of Hinton; one daughter, Dollene K. Wilson of Petersburg; one sister, Hilda M. Eskridge Ueberfluss; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at Schaeffer Funeral Home today from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be in the funeral home chapel Friday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Michael E. Taylor and the Rev. Richard L. Longbon officiating. Interment will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery in Petersburg. Memorials may be made to Grove Street United Methodist Church or the American Lung Association.
