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John Byron Elder
Born: 7/12/1923
Died: 7/25/2014
Age: 91
Community: Grand Blanc, MI
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ELDER, John Byron - age 91, of Grand Blanc, died July 25, 2014. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, July 28 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Linden Chapel, 209 East Broad Street, Linden with Pastor Jeff Jaggers officiating. Interment in Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be held 5-7 PM Saturday, and 1-5 PM Sunday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial donations to support the American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels or food banks in Genesee County, in lieu of flowers.
John was born in Flint, Michigan, on July 12, 1923, the third of four sons of Paul and Clara Elder. He graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1940 as World War II was expanding rapidly in Europe. During the war he served in Europe in the 102nd infantry, known as the Ozarks Division, in the 406th regiment, Company K, and saw intense combat in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns in France and Germany. He earned good conduct ribbons as well as an infantry combat badge, and was part of operations that included crossing the Roer and Rhine rivers. He remained in occupied Germany for a year following the War serving as an Army clerk before returning to Michigan.
After the war he met Rose Amanda Johnson at the public ice rink at Ballenger Park in Flint. They married in 1950. In 1955 they moved to Pine Lake in Linden with their two young children, Richard Elder (1952) and Jane Elder (1954). He lived on Pine Lake in the house he built for the next 45 years. He worked for most of his career as a draftsman in plant layout and design for A.C. Sparkplug in Flint, and was a proud member of the UAW. In Linden he was active as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America when his children were young, and in retirement, participated in the VFW. He was life-long Detroit Tigers fan. He enjoyed boat and pontoon rides on the lake, grilling steaks for picnics on the porch, teaching children how to fish, and the view over the water. John was a talented figure skater, and skated throughout most of his life, including as a member of the Silver Blades until he was in his seventies.
He had many construction and mechanical skills, and was known in the neighborhood for fixing lawn mowers, boat motors, electrical wiring, rusty cars and many other things that needed repairs.
Rose passed away in early 1991 after an extended illness. He married Marie McAlinden in 1992. Only a few years later, Marie succumbed to cancer in 1996. Marie’s five daughters and son gave John a new extended family with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In 2000 he married Carol Evans and moved to Grand Blanc, and his family circle grew to include Carol’s children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Homer Elder, Chester Elder and Gene Elder, and first wife, Rose Elder. His surviving family includes wife, Carol Evans Elder, son Richard Elder, his wife Sandy and her children and grandchildren, daughter Jane Elder and her husband Bill Davis, and their son, Colin Elder Davis, nephews Robert Elder, Larry Elder and Gary Elder and their families, nieces Nancy (Elder) Knudson and Patsy (Elder) Jamieson and their families, and nephew James McIntyre and his family, as well as the children and grandchildren of Marie Elder and Carol Evans Elder.
Tributes may be shared on the obituary page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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7/26/2014 |
| Time: |
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5:00 PM |
| Visitation will be held 5-7 PM Saturday, and 1-5 PM Sunday at the funeral home. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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7/28/2014 |
| Time: |
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11:00 AM |
| Official: |
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Pastor Jeff Jaggers |
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