News-Register, McMinnville, Oregon, Thursday, January 15, 2004
A graveside service was held Tuesday in the Newcastle Cemetery in Newcastle, Calif., for former McMinnville resident retired Air Force Col. Clarence Lewis "Lew" Elder of Loomis, Calif. He died Jan. 4, 2004, in Loomis at the age of 89.
He was born Nov. 2, 1915, in Tacoma, Wash., son of Clarence Clark and Marietta Pitcher Elder. He was raised and educated in McMinnville and attended Linifield College for two years while working part time as a movie projectionist.
Mr. Elder subsequently was selected as Oregon's representative to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and graduated with the class of 1941. He then attended and instructed at military flight training schools in Stockton and Ontario, Calif., and Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
He fulfilled his wish to serve his country as a pilot by commanding a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber over Germany in 1942-45.
While studying for his master's degree in aero engineering at the University of MIchigan in 1951, he married Dorothy and they started a family. His wife died as a result of surgical complications. That was about the time he was transferred to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., the White Sands Missile Proving Grounds.
Mr. Elder met and married Ann Wellington Barnt, a widow and mother of two, from nearby Alamogordo. The Air Force ordered him on solo assignment to the Pentagon about 1955, but after two trips to Air Force Command in Washington, D.C., he was able to gain reassignment to Japan in order to keep his new family together. He was stationed at Johnson AFB in Japan from 1956-60.
His next transfer was to Eglin AFB, Fla., from 1960-63.
He helped direct the Strategic Air Command during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His last assignment was to the Pentagon, where he served in the Inspector General's Office until he retired from the military in 1965 with numerous medals and commendations earned during his years of service.
The Elders moved to Saratoga, Calif., and he was employed by Lockheed Corp. in the missiles and space program from 1965 until retiring in 1980. While in Saratoga, he helped design and construct his dream house in Calaveras County.
Mr. Elder was active in SIRS and the Sequoia Woods Country Club men's group when not on world travels. He and his wife moved to Sun City Roseville in 1997, then to Loomis in 2000.
Survivors include his wife of Loomis; a daughter, Tina Margason of San Jose, Calif.; four sons, Mike Elder of San Jose, Tom Elder of Aspen, Colo., Randy Elder of Loomis and Rich Elder of Livermore, Calif.; and his sister, Laura Thompson of Long Beach, Wash.
He was preceded in death by a son, Clarence L. "Rusty" Elder Jr.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. 10996.
A graveside service was held Tuesday in the Newcastle Cemetery in Newcastle, Calif., for former McMinnville resident retired Air Force Col. Clarence Lewis "Lew" Elder of Loomis, Calif. He died Jan. 4, 2004, in Loomis at the age of 89.
He was born Nov. 2, 1915, in Tacoma, Wash., son of Clarence Clark and Marietta Pitcher Elder. He was raised and educated in McMinnville and attended Linifield College for two years while working part time as a movie projectionist.
Mr. Elder subsequently was selected as Oregon's representative to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and graduated with the class of 1941. He then attended and instructed at military flight training schools in Stockton and Ontario, Calif., and Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
He fulfilled his wish to serve his country as a pilot by commanding a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber over Germany in 1942-45.
While studying for his master's degree in aero engineering at the University of MIchigan in 1951, he married Dorothy and they started a family. His wife died as a result of surgical complications. That was about the time he was transferred to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., the White Sands Missile Proving Grounds.
Mr. Elder met and married Ann Wellington Barnt, a widow and mother of two, from nearby Alamogordo. The Air Force ordered him on solo assignment to the Pentagon about 1955, but after two trips to Air Force Command in Washington, D.C., he was able to gain reassignment to Japan in order to keep his new family together. He was stationed at Johnson AFB in Japan from 1956-60.
His next transfer was to Eglin AFB, Fla., from 1960-63.
He helped direct the Strategic Air Command during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His last assignment was to the Pentagon, where he served in the Inspector General's Office until he retired from the military in 1965 with numerous medals and commendations earned during his years of service.
The Elders moved to Saratoga, Calif., and he was employed by Lockheed Corp. in the missiles and space program from 1965 until retiring in 1980. While in Saratoga, he helped design and construct his dream house in Calaveras County.
Mr. Elder was active in SIRS and the Sequoia Woods Country Club men's group when not on world travels. He and his wife moved to Sun City Roseville in 1997, then to Loomis in 2000.
Survivors include his wife of Loomis; a daughter, Tina Margason of San Jose, Calif.; four sons, Mike Elder of San Jose, Tom Elder of Aspen, Colo., Randy Elder of Loomis and Rich Elder of Livermore, Calif.; and his sister, Laura Thompson of Long Beach, Wash.
He was preceded in death by a son, Clarence L. "Rusty" Elder Jr.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. 10996.
News-Register, McMinnville, Oregon, Thursday, January 15, 2004
A graveside service was held Tuesday in the Newcastle Cemetery in Newcastle, Calif., for former McMinnville resident retired Air Force Col. Clarence Lewis "Lew" Elder of Loomis, Calif. He died Jan. 4, 2004, in Loomis at the age of 89.
He was born Nov. 2, 1915, in Tacoma, Wash., son of Clarence Clark and Marietta Pitcher Elder. He was raised and educated in McMinnville and attended Linifield College for two years while working part time as a movie projectionist.
Mr. Elder subsequently was selected as Oregon's representative to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and graduated with the class of 1941. He then attended and instructed at military flight training schools in Stockton and Ontario, Calif., and Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
He fulfilled his wish to serve his country as a pilot by commanding a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber over Germany in 1942-45.
While studying for his master's degree in aero engineering at the University of MIchigan in 1951, he married Dorothy and they started a family. His wife died as a result of surgical complications. That was about the time he was transferred to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., the White Sands Missile Proving Grounds.
Mr. Elder met and married Ann Wellington Barnt, a widow and mother of two, from nearby Alamogordo. The Air Force ordered him on solo assignment to the Pentagon about 1955, but after two trips to Air Force Command in Washington, D.C., he was able to gain reassignment to Japan in order to keep his new family together. He was stationed at Johnson AFB in Japan from 1956-60.
His next transfer was to Eglin AFB, Fla., from 1960-63.
He helped direct the Strategic Air Command during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His last assignment was to the Pentagon, where he served in the Inspector General's Office until he retired from the military in 1965 with numerous medals and commendations earned during his years of service.
The Elders moved to Saratoga, Calif., and he was employed by Lockheed Corp. in the missiles and space program from 1965 until retiring in 1980. While in Saratoga, he helped design and construct his dream house in Calaveras County.
Mr. Elder was active in SIRS and the Sequoia Woods Country Club men's group when not on world travels. He and his wife moved to Sun City Roseville in 1997, then to Loomis in 2000.
Survivors include his wife of Loomis; a daughter, Tina Margason of San Jose, Calif.; four sons, Mike Elder of San Jose, Tom Elder of Aspen, Colo., Randy Elder of Loomis and Rich Elder of Livermore, Calif.; and his sister, Laura Thompson of Long Beach, Wash.
He was preceded in death by a son, Clarence L. "Rusty" Elder Jr.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. 10996.
A graveside service was held Tuesday in the Newcastle Cemetery in Newcastle, Calif., for former McMinnville resident retired Air Force Col. Clarence Lewis "Lew" Elder of Loomis, Calif. He died Jan. 4, 2004, in Loomis at the age of 89.
He was born Nov. 2, 1915, in Tacoma, Wash., son of Clarence Clark and Marietta Pitcher Elder. He was raised and educated in McMinnville and attended Linifield College for two years while working part time as a movie projectionist.
Mr. Elder subsequently was selected as Oregon's representative to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and graduated with the class of 1941. He then attended and instructed at military flight training schools in Stockton and Ontario, Calif., and Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
He fulfilled his wish to serve his country as a pilot by commanding a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber over Germany in 1942-45.
While studying for his master's degree in aero engineering at the University of MIchigan in 1951, he married Dorothy and they started a family. His wife died as a result of surgical complications. That was about the time he was transferred to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., the White Sands Missile Proving Grounds.
Mr. Elder met and married Ann Wellington Barnt, a widow and mother of two, from nearby Alamogordo. The Air Force ordered him on solo assignment to the Pentagon about 1955, but after two trips to Air Force Command in Washington, D.C., he was able to gain reassignment to Japan in order to keep his new family together. He was stationed at Johnson AFB in Japan from 1956-60.
His next transfer was to Eglin AFB, Fla., from 1960-63.
He helped direct the Strategic Air Command during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His last assignment was to the Pentagon, where he served in the Inspector General's Office until he retired from the military in 1965 with numerous medals and commendations earned during his years of service.
The Elders moved to Saratoga, Calif., and he was employed by Lockheed Corp. in the missiles and space program from 1965 until retiring in 1980. While in Saratoga, he helped design and construct his dream house in Calaveras County.
Mr. Elder was active in SIRS and the Sequoia Woods Country Club men's group when not on world travels. He and his wife moved to Sun City Roseville in 1997, then to Loomis in 2000.
Survivors include his wife of Loomis; a daughter, Tina Margason of San Jose, Calif.; four sons, Mike Elder of San Jose, Tom Elder of Aspen, Colo., Randy Elder of Loomis and Rich Elder of Livermore, Calif.; and his sister, Laura Thompson of Long Beach, Wash.
He was preceded in death by a son, Clarence L. "Rusty" Elder Jr.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. 10996.
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