Eleanor Marie Tidwell; Former Business Owner

Ventura resident Eleanor Marie Tidwell died Sunday at a local convalescent hospital following a lengthy illness. She was 79.

Tidwell was born June 22, 1919, in Detroit. She was the only child of Theo and Olga Piotrowski. She attended grade school and high school in Michigan before moving to California in 1942.

For many years, she worked as a secretary at a Burbank aerospace company before moving to Ventura in 1956.

Tidwell and her former husband, Duane Tidwell, founded Tidwell Excavating in Saticoy in 1960. Duane Tidwell still owns the company.

Tidwell had been a member of Altrusa, an organization for women who own construction companies. She was an avid traveler and her family said she enjoyed visiting Germany and Japan. She also played bridge regularly.

Tidwell is survived by her daughters, Beverly Kincheloe of Ventura and Barbara Wilbanks of Grass Valley; six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson.

There will be no services. Arrangements are being handled by the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.