Leland Stanford Eskridge ,89, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2013 at Crawley Memorial Hospital in Boiling Springs, NC. He was born November 6, 1923 in Cleveland County, NC to the late Thomas P. and Annie Mae Eskridge.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Thomas Lloyd Eskridge and his wife Jean of Burlington, NC, William Harris Eskridge and wife Annie Laurie of Shelby, sisters Martha Eskridge Frost and her husband Bill of Chattanooga, Tenn. and Shelby, Amelia Blanton Eskridge of Shelby and his beloved cat and companion, Punkin.

He is survived by nieces Anne Eskridge of Shelby, Betsy Eskridge Tesseneer and husband Bobby of Mooresboro, Martha Eskridge Robinson and husband Kevin of Mocksville, NC, Janet Eskridge Villanova and husband Alan of Burlington and great nephew Jack Robinson of Mocksville, NC.

Mr. Eskridge was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church in Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School in 1941. Stanford served his country honorably in the U.S. Army from Feb. 1943 to Feb. 1946 and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the American Theater Service Medal. After the war he enrolled at the Bowling Green College of Commerce where he earned a BA in Commercial Education in Jan. 1951. He then completed his Masters of Science in Education at Indiana University in 1953.  During his career Stanford taught high school for the Duval County School System in Jacksonville, Florida. After retirement, he returned to his hometown of Shelby, NC and lived many years with his sister Amelia and enjoyed reading his Bible, keeping up with local and national news by reading several newspapers cover to cover each day, watching UNC Basketball and Football, Braves Baseball and going to Orchestra Concerts at Gardner Webb University.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff and physicians of Crawley Memorial Hospital for making him one of your own during his final days. We would also like to thank the staff of the CRMC Emergency Department, 4 West, Hospice, his Hospice volunteer Izabella Jablonska, all of his wonderful neighbors that have looked out for him for many years and his special friend Jayne Paksoy Devita. Also special thanks go to Dr. Gideon Besson and the staff of Shelby Medical Associates for their many years of compassionate care.

Stanford requested that a graveside service only be conducted with interment at Sunset Cemetery. The service will be on  Monday,  October  14 at 1 pm. The family will receive friends following the service at the gravesite.

Cecil Burton Funeral Home and Crematory  will be serving the family.

Memorials may be made to the Gardner Webb University Orchestra, Attn. Dr. Patricia Sparti, GWU Music Department, PO Box 7313, Boiling Springs, NC 28017, First Baptist Church of Shelby, 120 N Lafayette St, Shelby, NC 28150 or Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover  Heights Dr, Shelby, NC 28150

Cecil M Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mr. Eskridge.