Jody Scott

Jody Minardo Scott, 94, passed away peacefully on March 4th, 2024 in Northglenn, Colorado. Even though she struggled with vision loss for over a decade leading up to her passing, she often remained optimistic, quoting “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.”

She was born to Josephine and Michael Minardo in September of 1929 in Lafayette, Indiana. She had a younger brother Frank and cousin Patty who were close during their childhood. While attending Purdue University focusing on fashion and design she met her first husband Drexal Scott and moved to Youngstown Ohio.  

Youngstown Ohio proved to be a challenging place to pursue a career in fashion design so she turned her attention to flying airplanes, teaching Dale Carnegie and selling Avon products.  She was a leader in the all female pilot organization founded by Amelia Earhart known as the “Ninety-Nines,” which comprised the first 99 female pilots in the country.  One of her responsibilities was to organize and promote air shows.  

After marrying her second husband Owen Eshbaugh she had her only son, Jerry Eshbaugh and returned to school to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Youngstown State University in Ohio,  a degree that would later lead her to securing a job as professor at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio.  

Further, she wrote two books called “Lighty of Abbas Acres,” which was a story following the life of Jesus in the form of a lamb, and “Sophie Finds a Home” which was about a homeless lady searching for a place to live. She also led live performances of the books at local schools and churches.

Her intellect and her passion for Christ, even in her old age, was noted by many who met her. Other passions of hers included singing, listening to EWTN Catholic radio, and eating cherry pie, for which she was often teased by her family for having a second “dessert stomach”.

She is survived by her son Jerry Eshbaugh, daughter-in-law Jackie Eshbaugh, and two granddaughters Katie and Sarah Eshbaugh. 

Her memorial service will be at 4:00 on Friday March 8th at Horan & McConaty Funeral home 9998 Grant St., Thornton CO. 

In lieu of flowers please send donations in her honor to The Society for the Blind.