Diana Carol (Howe) Etheridge, Satellite Beach Florida Branch
Diana Carol (Howe) Etheridge, 78, was born in Alliance, Nebraska, and died September 4, 2018 at her home in Merritt Island, Florida. She was a letters member of the Cape Canaveral Branch.
She is survived by her loving family: husband Brian Newman Etheridge, sister Christina Lynn (Howe) Avignon, both of Merritt Island, daughters Juliana Lynn Etheridge and Melissa Ann Etheridge, and granddaughters Mara Bell Nichols and Ella Jane Nichols, all of the Denver, CO area.
Etheridge wrote “Cook-n-Rhyme with Kids: Healthy Recipes That Tell a Story,” an interactive cookbook for children illustrated by her daughter Juliana, which encouraged children and parents to learn together through kitchen recipes, stories, and activities.
Diverse interests motivated Etheridge all her life. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and her master’s of art from Simmons College, Boston, and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society and Pi Beta Phi sorority.
She studied widely abroad and visited all continents except Antarctica. She enjoyed careers as a teacher in public and private schools, editor of “My Hawaii” by Jane Thomas; published poet and real estate agent in a variety of locations. She was a lifetime member of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Association of Realtors Million Dollar Club.
She held the patent for a construction process; was president and founder of EDEA; and created CYBERNASTICS Inc., a web-based exercise site. Etheridge loved dance and one of her fondest memories was dancing at the Orange Bowl with the Modern Dance Club. Even as her health declined, she still relished dancing with her fellow Golden Steppers.
Her enthusiasm was contagious. She was a past president of the Capitol City Optimist International Service Club and an active member of the Cocoa Beach Optimist Club. She was also socially and politically active and served on congressional campaigns.
Memorial celebrations of life were held at her Merritt Island home and in Denver, Colorado.