John Benjamin Elder was born on August 18, 1926 in Nevada, Mo., and died July 5, 2015 at the age of 88. John graduated from Tulsa Central High School and the University of Oklahoma with a geology degree. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and maintained those friendships his entire life. He served in the Army-Air Force during World War II. After working for several different oil companies, he and Jack H. Vaughn created Elder and Vaughn, a successful independent oil company. Through his example, he taught others that "working for yourself" means you choose responsibility, leadership, integrity, generosity and compassion.
He was the consummate gentleman. His smile and the sparkle in his bright blue eyes lit up the room and all he came in contact with knew he was genuinely glad to see them. He was a kind, humble and supportive husband, father, “PawPaw” and friend to all. He loved his dachshunds -- Max, Otto, Klaus, Gelande, Bailey and Stein – and several of them loved getting to go play golf with him after dinner or going fly-fishing!
He loved to tell a good joke or story. He loved the game of golf and for many years he had the distinction of being the member who had played the most rounds of golf at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. He was also a charter member of Oak Tree Golf and Country Club. He believed there was no such thing as a bad day for golf. Some days were just better than others... He enjoyed playing in tournaments at The Broadmoor, in Phoenix and Palm Springs for many years as well as member-guest tournaments with his friends in Amarillo, Tyler and Midland, Texas.
John was a longtime member of All Souls Episcopal Church serving on the Vestry and as an usher for several decades. In 1969 realizing the importance of a good education and finding that was not readily available in the OKC public schools, he and Norman Reynolds from All Souls’ got together with several other interested parents to start Heritage Hall. He helped hire the headmaster, several teachers and eventually presided over the Board of Trustees.
He taught Patti and his children how to fish – first with cane poles at the country club lake and then fly rods. Eventually he and Patti began fly-fishing and tying their own flies. They shared their love of the sport with their children. They fly-fished in their beloved home away from home, The Ranch at Roaring Fork in Carbondale, Colorado, as well as Idaho, Wyoming and New Zealand. Their enthusiasm for fly-fishing was shared by their children and grandchildren who enjoyed many great family vacations fly-fishing in Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. He was full of "Dad-ism's" – "I never met a pie I didn't like --cobbler, round, square and crossbar...
"Now Mrs. Lincoln, except for the shooting, how did you like the play?"
"You're telling Noah about the flood."
"It's better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
"Lions 2, Christians 0."
"I wish you kids could be more like my dog: he's always glad to see me, he never lips off to me; he never charges up my credit cards; and he doesn't come home stumbling drunk at night."
"Fast money makes fast friends."
"You'd lie for credit, when you could get cash for the truth."
"Just tell 'em where you got it."
John is survived by his wife of 64 years Patti Jo; his beloved sister Mary Whitlow Spiser; his four children Ben (Carrie Christine), Pete (Diane), Lisa and Emily Pilcher (Tiger); grandchildren Lauren Elder, Anna Elder, Sophie and Grace Pilcher. He was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Penny Elder.
The family would like to thank Norma Lennox, Jeremy Keith, Becky Brown
and Laura Lynn’s Home Health Care for their help these past few years.
The Memorial Service will be at All Souls’ Episcopal Church at 3:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 9, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 6400 N Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, OK 73116; Alzheimer's Association, Oklahoma Chapter, 2448 E. 81st Street, Suite 3000, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137-4250; The Gladney Center for Adoption, 6300 John Ryan Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76132 or the charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18