CLAYTON - Evelyn F. (Eckeard) Ridley Austin passed away on Sun. Oct. 25th, 2015 at the Pinnacle Rehabilitation & Health Center in Smyrna, after a long illness. She was born in Dover, on Feb. 20, 1932, to the late John R. and Mary Catherine Eckeard. She was a 1950 graduate of John Bassett Moore High School in Smyrna. She worked for several years with the State of Delaware Department of Public Instruction (now Department of Education), and for many years at Sander's Jewelers on Loockerman St., Dover. She also worked at a couple other local jewelry stores, as well as long-term babysitting. In her younger years, she was an active member of Cheswold United Methodist Church, the Cheswold Church Ladies Auxiliary, and the Cheswold Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary. She helped raise funds for the Stockley Center in Millsboro for a several years. She loved to read, crochet, make quilts and other crafts, and enjoyed traveling and going to Casinos, and watching television with her husband, Ernie. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, her brother, John R. Eckeard, Jr., and her sister, Doris Eckeard Swiggett, and her sister's three children, Richard, Debbie, and Kenneth. She is survived by her husband of over 44 years, Ernest W. Austin, Jr. of Clayton; and her children, Earl H. Ridley, II, Dover; Linda K. Maderich (Henry), Glassboro, N.J.; and Lori J. Ennis (Steve), Dover; and her step-daughter, Ellen Ann Jensen, Vancouver, Wash. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Jazz Davis, Jesse Ridley; Shanna Hoffman; and Hilary Ennis, Sarah Ennis, and Emily Ennis. Also, two step-grandchildren, Christina and Michelle Jensen. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild. Evelyn also leaves behind a life-long friend, Audrey Hollinger, Dover; and Rodney Blanchfield of Clayton, a neighbor who was like a son to her, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Thursday Oct. 29, at 11 a.m. at Trader Funeral Home, 12 Lotus St., Dover, Del. 19904, where friends may call at 10 a.m. for a visitation. Interment will be at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, at 1 p.m., 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro, Del. 19966. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105, or via www.StJude.org Letters of condolences may be sent to www.traderfh.com