SALISBURY – Claude C. Aldridge, 87, a longtime resident of Salisbury, passed away peacefully Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006, at the residence of daughter Jan Hepler. & lt;br & gt; & lt;br & gt;Born Sept. 27, 1919, in Lenoir County, Mr. Aldridge was the son of the late Claude and Addie Aldridge of La Grange. He retired from Normans of Salisbury, as well as the City of Salisbury, and was active in Rowan Christian Assembly in Salisbury and Psalm 91 in Tyro. & lt;br & gt; & lt;br & gt;Claude really knew how to be a friend. Those he met were never strangers, only friends he had never known. Though he only had two children, many called him Dad. & lt;br & gt; & lt;br & gt;He was preceded in death by his wives, Ruth in April 1983 and Geneva on July 3, 2006; and sisters Lillian Edwards of Fayetteville and Kathryn Freeman of Durham. & lt;br & gt; & lt;br & gt;Surviving are daughters Carole Smith of Blacksburg, S.C., and Jan Hepler of Davidson County; six grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren (with No. 18 on the way). & lt;br & gt; & lt;br & gt;Mr. Aldridge’s wishes were to bequeath his body to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a legacy of helping others will continue. & lt;br & gt; & lt;br & gt;Service: A memorial service will be held at Psalm 91, Michael Road, Tyro, at 1 p.m. Saturday. The family welcomes all of his friends and those whose lives he touched. & lt;br & gt; & lt;br & gt;Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Chapel is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net.