Elinor May Hedrick Caldwell died of natural causes January 21, 2021 in Denton, Texas, at the age of 97.

She was born in 1923 to Ada May Hedrick and Oley Foster Hedrick in Norman, Oklahoma. She grew up in Thurber, Texas and in Midland, Texas, and graduated from Midland High School in 1940.

After attending Christian College in Columbia, Missouri, she earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Texas, where she also earned a Master's Degree in Spanish.

While at UT, she met law student Robert Henderson Caldwell, Jr. They married in 1948 and settled in his hometown of Denton, Texas where they raised their four children.

She continued to work part time in the field of Spanish in the 1950s and 1960s, teaching at Texas Woman's University and at TWU Demonstration School. She also worked towards a Ph. D. in Spanish, and although she never completed it, she was offered a tenured university teaching position in the early 1960s.

Elinor was a member and former elder of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. She was active in the church's Circle organization and taught adult Sunday school classes for many years. She also served on the committee that purchased and installed a large pipe organ in the church's sanctuary.

For many years Elinor worked tirelessly for Denton community and charitable organizations. She was a charter and honorary member of the Denton Benefit League, serving as President in 1978.  She served on the boards of the Denton Public Library and Friends of the Library. She was also Director of the Volunteer Center.

She was a 70-year member and past president of the Aerial Club and Modern Era. During the 1970s and 1980s, along with Maurine Floyd and Martha Len Nelson, she provided a catering service at the Woman's Club Building that funded many renovations and improvements to the building. She was also a committee member and recipe tester for The Denton Woman's Club Cookbook, first published in 1980.

Elinor was an avid reader all her life until her eyesight failed at age 90. For many years she gave book review talks for community organizations in Denton and the surrounding area. She also enjoyed playing bridge and was a founding member of a bridge club that formed in 1948 and played together for over 65 years.

Elinor is survived by her four children Robert Henderson Caldwell, III (Gayle Daniels), Ellen Elizabeth Caldwell (James Calloway), Laura Catherine Caldwell (Jonathan Tucker), and James Hedrick Caldwell; grandson Augustine Caldwell Tucker; and seven nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service will be held for family members at Roselawn Memorial Park.  Memorial contributions in Elinor's name may be made to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, the Denton Benefit League, or other charity of choice.