Rev. Lonnie R. Eldridge age 74 went home to be with his Lord on Monday, September 22, 2025 at his home in Niota, Tennessee. Lonnie was a retired pastor of the United Methodist Church.

Born in Chattanooga and raised in Spring City, Tennessee, he was a proud graduate of Spring City High School, “Class of 1968”. Lonnie was a graduate of Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee and received his Bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee. He continued his ministerial calling at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Lonnie pastored numerous Methodist churches in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was also a well-known artist in oil painting. His landscape pictures are known by many in East Tennessee and North Georgia areas. As a hobby, Lonnie loved old automobiles. He would buy them, work on them and restore them. Lonnie also enjoyed attending car shows with his twin brother, Johnnie.

Lonnie is preceded in death by his parents Ray and Jean Eldridge.

Survivors include his loving wife of 55 years Connie Sherrill Eldridge of Niota, Tennessee; his sons Lon Matthew Eldridge of Chattanooga, Tennessee and David Lee Eldridge of Niota, Tennessee; his daughter Betty Jean (Joseph) McDonald of Spring City, Tennessee; his granddaughter Kimberly Kirkland; his grandson Brandon Eldridge; his brother Rev. Johnnie (Joan) Eldridge of Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia; his sister Lois Eldridge (Dan) Hefner of Dayton, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. at Spring City Methodist Church with Rev. Mike Hubble, Rev. David Grant, and Rev. Johnnie Eldridge officiating. Interment will follow in the Spring City Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request gifts sent to Holston Home for Children, P.O. Box 188, Greenville, Tennessee 37743 in Lonnie’s memory.

Vaughn Funeral Home of Spring City is in charge of the arrangements for Rev. Lonnie Eldridge. Please share your memories and condolences with his family at www.vaughn-funeral-home.com