HEYBURN – Eldon D. Mecham, 73, of Heyburn, passed away at his home Friday, May 24, 2013, due to a short battle with cancer.
He was born August 17, 1939 in Paul, Idaho, to Theodore Julius Mecham and Hertha Katherine Schnabel. He joined siblings Bob, Shirley and Jerry. His parents divorced shortly after he was born and his mother married Earl Stimpson who became the father that raised him. A brother Jim and a sister Charlotte were added to the family. Eldon graduated from Minico High School in 1957. He looked forward to and attended all of the class reunions that were held every 5 years and celebrated his 55th reunion last summer.
He married Glenda Marie Fenstermaker on November 1, 1957. They had three children, Jackie, Peggy and Scott. He worked a few odd jobs in his early years but eventually settled into a job he could not have loved more with Youngs Dairy in 1960. He was a wholesale delivery driver and made many friends along his route. After 18 years on the route the company promoted him to manager and they were required to move from their home in Heyburn to Burley. They were there for seven years when he retired after 25 years with the company and returned to his home in Heyburn, bought a Clover Club potato chip route which he ran for the next 22 years. He always believed in working hard and that it was the only way a person could afford to enjoy life.
He enjoyed family get togethers, hunting, bowling, trips to Jackpot and fishing! He had many annual trips with family and friends which included spring and fall steelhead fishing for the past 32 years, annual trips to Island Park in the summer and lots of trips here and there to Magic Reservoir, Salmon Dam and day trips with his brothers to many local fishing spots. One of his annual fishing trips that he went on for the last 45 years and especially looked forward to as it was with his oldest and dearest friends, Chuck McCoy, Wally Winningham, Lew Humphreys, Jerry Jonas and Larry Holm.
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Glenda; his daughter, Jackie (Darren) Werner of Eden; daughter, Peggy (John) Todd of Twin Falls; and son, Scott (Sharon) Mecham of Heyburn; and grandchildren, Summer (Clay) Howard, Dylan (Dondi) Lish, Josh Werner and Ruthie, Jake Werner and Cassie, Monica (Eddy) Long, Andy Glenn, Rocky Todd, Janie Todd, Misty (Joe) Maddox, Kimberly (Mike) Smith and Mandy (Colby) Andersen. He is also survived by six great grandchildren with one on the way; his brothers, Bob (Sharen) Meacham of Rupert and Jim (Janie) Stimpson of Rupert; sister Shirley (Leo) Knopp of Burley; brother in law, Bill Martindale of Vancouver, WA, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jerry in 1962; sister, Charlotte in 2013; and several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Brandi Boston from Hospice for being there when she was needed most.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to an organization of choice.
A viewing will be held at Hansen Mortuary, 710 6th St. in Rupert, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening, May 30, 2013. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, May 31, 2013, at the mortuary. Burial will follow at the Paul Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Joel Heward Hansen Mortuary.