Elaine Goble Dandridge

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Elaine Goble Dandridge, 64, of St. Louis, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at her home.

Born Jan. 13, 1952, in Terra Haute, Ind., to Paul and Mary Jane (Esche) Goble, she was the second of three sisters. After graduating high school, she attended University of Illinois on an academic merit scholarship, graduating with a degree in English education. Like her parents, she became a teacher. She taught English for five years in Sheffield, developing her own curriculum, before returning to University of Illinois to complete an additional degree in industrial design from 1980 to 1983. For this degree, she was named outstanding senior student in her graduating class.

She first worked as a toy designer at Tonka, where she was proudest for her work designing both Pound Puppies and GoBots. After moving to St. Louis, Mo., she first worked for HOK, and later for Anheuser Busch Entertainment, where she designed rides, the look and function of educational spaces, and signage at their Sea World and Busch Gardens theme parks. Her proudest work for A-B was her work for Sesame Place Workshop in Pennsylvania where her commitment, professionalism, skill and good humor will long be remembered. Her freelance work in the last decade included work for Missouri Botanical Garden, The Endangered Wolf Center, The Butterfly House, and most recently for St. John Church in Ellisville, Mo., where she designed both and identity and a new sense of arrival.

She was an exceptional and passionate artist and spent much of her time on figure drawing and painting. She was beloved by her community and will be missed by her many loving friends and family members.

Elaine is survived by her husband, David Wraith Dandridge; her children, Tim (Marci Baranski) Swanger of Alexandria, Va., and Libby Swanger of St. Louis, Mo.; her father, Paul Goble of Princeton; her sisters, Bonnie (David) Carlson of Adel, Iowa, and Rita (Jeff) Calvert of St. Joseph, Mich.; her dearest cousin, Betsy (Joe) Huff Milner; her nieces and nephews, Eric (Sarah) Carlson, Mark (Anita) Carlson, Scott (Sarah) Swanger, Philip (Allison) Calvert, Hannah Calvert, Michael Swanger and Kathryn Swanger.

She was preceded in death by her mother.

Services were held Sunday, Jan. 15, at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary in St. Louis, Mo.

Memorials may be directed to The Butterfly House, Shameless Grounds or SpecDrum, all of St. Louis, Mo.

Online condolences may be left at Legacy.com.