Elida M. "Ellie" Escalante

Elida "Ellie" M. ESCALANTE, passed away August 1, 2015. Born in San Angelo, Texas, Ellie was a loving wife of 63 years, predeceased by her husband, Benito (Ret. USAF and Korean War Vet). In her spare time when she wasn't packing and moving their children in and out of the country following Ben to his duty stations, Ellie was a nurse's aide with the Dade County Chapter of the American Red Cross for which she was awarded a special Certificate of Merit for dedication above and beyond high standards for her unusual service during the operation of �Task Force X� concerning the return of Cuban prisoners in December 1962. She later became a volunteer as well as a President of the Canal Zone Chapter 901 Ladies Auxiliary of the Air Force Sergeants Association and focused her efforts on the Home Foundation and Hogar de la Infancia in Panama. Upon Ben's retirement to St. Petersburg in 1975, Ellie acquired her GED and spent over two decades working for Dillard's. Nonetheless a devoted wife and mother, she was an avid league bowler with countless trophies, enjoyed ceramic making and crocheting, and she loved to cook Spanish, Italian and Mexican feasts for family and friends. Ellie is survived by her sister Amelia Ramirez of San Diego, CA, her and Ben's four loving children: daughter Christine DeFeyter (Gary) of Seffner and their family of 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren, Erica Oertel (George) of St. Petersburg (Hope and Evan Steinke and Eddie and Hailee Oertel), and Erin Durkee (Dan) of Clearwater (Kaitlin and Owen); daughter Belinda Brown of Memphis, TN, and her family of 2 daughters, a son and 4 grandchildren, Sharon Williams (Scott) of Franklin, TN (Madeleine and Sophie), Candace Hinote (Drew) of Memphis, TN (Palmer and Noah), and Jay Poff of Memphis, TN; son, Michael Escalante of Gainesville; and daughter, Lidia Victoria Escalante, of St. Petersburg; �adopted son� Pete Copeskey and his family of Tuscon, AZ, as well as a life-long friend, Lu Gomez, and cousins Angelo and Josephine Gonzalez of St. Petersburg. We all wish to express our sincere gratitude for the compassion and kindness from everyone at The Fountains and The Springs of Boca Ciega Bay, Palms of Pasadena Hospital and Suncoast Hospice at Bayfront who cared for Ellie and touched our lives. Graveside service will be held 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2015, at Royal Palm Cemetery South.