Elder was born in Lindenau, Texas January 27, 1922 into a loving German Family that included three brothers and one sister. He passed peacefully in his sleep to be with our Lord October 25, 2016 in Murrieta, California. He was 94 years young. Elder was a long time resident of the Imperial Valley. He and his family moved to Holtville in 1953. His three children graduated from Holtville High School. The family moved to El Centro in 1964. He lived there until 2010. He wore many hats in his lifetime: a farmer, a rancher, a rodeo cowboy, a decorated Veteran of WWII, an oil field driller, and a heavy equipment operator. His largest job and the one he was most proud of was his role in the construction of part of the I-8 (San Diego to Yuma) freeway, working for Matich Construction. He mentioned how dangerous it was grading through the mountains, where he would find himself over a 1000 foot drop-off while building the freeway and several bridges. Next time you drive the stretch of freeway from El Centro to San Diego, take a moment to think of him. Most of all, he was a loving husband to his wife Evelyn Conway Arndt, until her death in 1988. They were married in September of 1951. He was a caring father to his three children: Fred Allen of Los Angeles, CA, Linda Allen Hughes of Menifee, CA, and Janice Allen Parker of Newark, NY as well as a devoted Grand Schtze to 9 grand children, 14 great grand children and 5 great, great grand children. He was predeceased by one of his grandsons, Sean Hughes of El Centro in 1989. Graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery Friday, November 4, 2016 at 2 p.m. and is being handled by Hems Brothers Mortuary, El Centro, California.

Published in Imperial Valley Press Online on Nov. 1, 2016