John Calvert Elder

John Calvert Elder, 95, of Ottawa, Kansas, died Thursday, February 13, 2014, at Ottawa Retirement Plaza. Funeral services will be held at the First Christian Church, 10:00 A.M., Monday, February 17, 2014. Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Elder at Dengel Son Mortuary from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. Saturday and Sunday, where the family will meet with friends from 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. Sunday. Interment Greenwood Cemetery in Franklin County. He was born on Monday, September 23, 1918 in Ottawa, Kansas, the son of Howard Dudley and Lucy Saphronia (Calvert) Elder. He was a lifelong Ottawa resident. John graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1938. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, from January 1942 until November 1942, attaining the rank of Seaman 2nd Class. On January 1, 1944, John was united in marriage with Anita Loraine Drake at Baldwin, Kansas. She preceded him in death on August 11, 2007. Also preceding John in death are his daughter, Sandra Wolfe; two sons, Hiram D. Bud Elder, and John C. Elder, Jr.; parents; brother, Jesse Elder; and sister, Edna Henry. Survivors include his daughter-in-law, Carolyn Elder of Ottawa; four grandchildren, Trisha Kaub and her husband Dan of Ottawa, Timothy Wolfe and his wife Cindy of Olathe, Kansas, Traci Martin and her husband Michael of Lubbock, Texas, and Tori Wilson and her husband Russ of Ottawa; ten great grandchildren, Levi, Tyler, and Zach Kaub, Christian and Travis Wolfe, Seth, Audrey and Jared Martin, Kelsi and David Wilson. He worked twenty-eight years as a letter carrier for the United States Post Office in Ottawa, retiring in 1972. John was a member of First Christian Church, Home Builders Sunday School Class, NARFE, AARP, Ottawa Lodge #18 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post #590l, past member of Ottawa Lodge #803, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Warren Black Post #60, American Legion. For many years until October 2011 he was a volunteer for the Mid-America Nutrition Program, delivering Meals on Wheels. Later he helped put the meals together, and was a board member at the Ottawa Senior Center, serving as president of the board for several years. The family suggests memorial contributions to First Christian Church, Midland Hospice or the Ottawa Senior Center c/o Dengel Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online Guest Book is available at www.dengelmortuary.com.