Eldon Ray Landers

August 11, 1921 - July 1, 2000

Eldon Ray Landers Sr., 78, died Tuesday, July 11, 2000, at his home.

Services are 2 p.m. today at the Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 Hwy. 277 South, with the Revs. Paul Nelson and H.G. Barnard officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park. Viewing will be at the 542 Hickory location until noon today.

Mr. Landers was born in Ovalo. He graduated from John Tarleton Agricultural College, where he was president of the Baptist Student Union. Prior to World War II, he worked at Consolidated Aircraft in California building airplanes. He worked as a civil engineer and surveyor with the Texas State Highway Department (1943-1953), and later worked at Dyess Air Force Base (1953-1954), which involved him in the first layout of the base. In 1955, he began working with the City of Abilene Engineering Department and retired after a 25-year career. After retiring he worked at farming and ranching.

He married LaVern Blackburn in 1942. He was a member of Elmdale Baptist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher for several years. He served on the Board of Trustees at Elmdale Schools and was an adult 4-H Leader.

Survivors include his wife, LaVern, of Abilene; three sons, Eldon Ray Landers Jr. of Springfield, Va., Larry Mike Landers of Garland, and James Ralph Landers of Abilene; one daughter, Janet (Jan) Landers of Abilene; two brothers, T.O. Landers of Grand Prairie and Don Landers of Azle; two sisters, Charlene Stephens of Tuscola and Joyce Upton of Huntsville, Ala.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Ben Richey Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 6839, Abilene, Texas 79608