Elder Jr., Frank

KILGORE - Graveside services for Frank Elder Jr., 97, of Kilgore, will 
be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 30, 2007, at the Kilgore Cemetery, with the 
Dr. Don Walker officiating.

Mr. Elder died Thursday, April 26, 2007, in Tyler, Texas.

He was born January 30, 1910, in Kilgore, Gregg County, Texas, to Frank 
and Minnie Elder. Frank was a graduate of Longview High School. He 
graduated in 1932 from Texas A&M University, where he majored in 
electrical engineering. Frank was a veteran of World War II, having 
served in the Pacific Theater in the U.S. Army Signal Corps attached to 
the Fifth Air Force, and having attained the rank of captain.

He was a director of the Kilgore First National Bank for 48 years, 
Carter-Jones Drilling Co. and was an independent businessman associated 
with the oil and gas industry and real estate. He served on the board of 
Kilgore Independent School District in the 1950's, was a charter member 
of Meadowbrook Country Club and a member of the First Baptist Church of 
Kilgore since 1926.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gretta; his brother, Jack Elder 
formerly of Kilgore; and sister, Charleen "Tootsie" Bagwell formerly of 
Longview.

Frank is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Meriam and Joe Eakin 
of Tyler; daughter, Minnette Elder of Jamestown, N.Y.; and son and 
daughter-in-law, Frank "Buz" and Lee Elder of Longview; grandchildren, 
Gretta Anne Sharp and husband, Herb of Chandler, Joseph Eakin and wife, 
Brenda of Tyler, Carey Elder Kelley of Austin and Bo Elder of San Diego, 
Calif.; great-grandchildren, Gretta Marie Sharp, Jace Eakin and 
Mac-Kenzie Eakin; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the scholarship fund of Texas A&M 
University, TAMU Honors Scholarship Office, 4233 TAMU, College Station, 
TX, 77843-4233; or the First Baptist Church of Kilgore, P.O. Box 1170, 
Kilgore, TX 75663; or to your local humane society.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, April 
29, 2007, at Rader Funeral Home of Kilgore.

Please leave online condolences at www.raderfuneralhome.com.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 4/28/2007.