Monroe lived in Bloomington, Houston and Bay City, Texas where he attended the first grade. He then moved to Bloomington, Texas where he attended Bloomington grade and high school, playing in his high school band, he graduated class of 1954. He attended Victoria Jr. College in 1955 and 1960 where he also played in the college band. Monroe also attended Ayers Institute in Shreveport, Louisiana where he graduated in 1983 with a diploma in Automated Accounting.
Monroe was employed at Thompson's Dry Cleaners, Thompson's Grocery and Wynn Brothers Oil Field in Bloomington Model Market; Montag Brothers Grocery in Victoria, Texas; and ICEE Distributors in Bossier City, Louisiana where he retired after 22 years in 2005.
Monroe was a proud veteran as he served 18 months in the USMC Reserves, 8 years in the USAF Reserves and 20 active years in the United States Air Force. During this time he was stationed in Camp Pendleton, California, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Biloxi Air Force Base, Mississippi, Mineoka Yama, Japan, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Foster Field, Texas, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Bien Hoa, Vietnam, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, Lajes Air Force Base, Azores, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
Monroe enjoyed racing GoKarts, doing Volksmarchs, watching NASCAR, Indy Cars, the NFL and college football on T.V., and country music. He joins in Heaven his grandparents Coy and Della Elkins, and Allie "Bigmama" Thompson; mother, Arda Ray; father, Ashley Elkins; step-father, Edgar Ray; sister, Elouise Donahou and her husband Jim; and great-granddaughter, Summer Elkins.
Left to cherish Monroe's memory is his wife, Linda Elkins; daughter, Nancy Patin and her husband, Don Patin; sons Roger Elkins and Philip Elkins and his wife, Tracy; brother, Don Elkins and his wife, Sylvia; grandchildren Lauren Lavy and husband, Brandon, Zachary Elkins and wife, McKayla, Caroline Patin, Madison Patin, Hunter Elkins, Lexie Elkins, Grant Elkins and Crosby Elkins; great-grandson Jude Lavy; numerous nieces and nephews and several great- nieces and nephews.
Service honoring the life of Monroe will be held Monday, July 1, 2024 beginning at 10am at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be held prior to services from 9am until 10am. Interment will immediately follow services at Hill Crest Memorial Park.
