DUNN — Mrs. Hortense “Tense” Bass Eldridge, 75, died Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012 at Duke Raleigh Hospital. She was born in Sampson County on Sept. 23, 1936 to the late Ammie Robertson and Annie Belle Herring Bass. She was preceded in death by a son, Steven Eldridge; five brothers, Robert, Lorenzal, Paul, Harry, and Lloyd Bass; two sisters, Hazel Detter, and Mildred Burney.

Tense graduated from Herring High School and Campbell College. She taught school for 35 years in Harnett County. She was also a member of the First Baptist Church where she was a deacon and taught Sunday school for 40 years.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Len Keever officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Harvey A. Eldridge Jr., of Dunn; a son, Alan Eldridge and wife, Sharon of Dunn; a brother, Norman Bass of Rocky Mount; three sisters, Mabel Hatterman of Wilmington, Elizabeth Estes of Dallas, Texas, Helen Vann of Clinton; daughter-in-law, Sheley Eldridge, two grandchildren, Amberly Wilson and husband, Brandon, and Clint Eldridge and fiancée, Jessica Beasley, two great grandchildren, Ashlyn and Luke Wilson, and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Skinner & Smith Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 309 W. Broad St. Dunn, NC 28334.