Olds, Eldon J. 1898-1977

OLDS, MOFFETT, TALBOTT, LOOPER, WOLCOTT, GREEN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/27/2009 at 16:35:25

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Sept. 5, 1977

ELDON OLDS, EX-COUNCILMAN, DIES AT 79

Eldon J. Olds, 79, of 1520 Main St., a former member of the Grinnell City Council, died at his home Monday afternoon of a heart attack.

Funeral services for Mr. Olds will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Lloyd A. Latta, administrator of Friendship Haven at Ft. Dodge, officiating. Organist will be Kathleen Heffner. Pallbearers will be C.S. Griewe, Robert E. Hamilton, Harold O. Hanson, Charles M. Manly, Hubert Saxton, and Howard C. Tinnes. Burial will be at Hazelwood Cemetery.

Should friends desire, memorials in Mr. Olds' name may be made to St. Francis Manor and left at the Smith Funeral Home.

The son of Andrew Jackson and Georgianna Moffett Olds, he was born April 15, 1898, in Chester Township. He attended rural schools near the family home and was graduated from Grinnell High School in 1918. While in school, he was active in sports and was captain of the 1917 football team.

Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific.

On June 12, 1920, he was married to Wilma Jean Talbott at her parents' home in Grinnell. They farmed for nine years, returning to Grinnell in 1929 where Mr. Olds owned and operated an elevator and coal business for 36 years.

Mr. Olds was a member of Focht-Tennant Post No. 53, American Legion, and served as commander of the post. He was also a member of the Forty and Eight and the Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. He was a member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church, taking part in several lay activities of the church.

He served two terms on the Grinnell City Council and was also a member of the Grinnell Veterans Memorial Commission.

Survivors include his wife, Wilma; a daughter, Mrs. Joe (Joan) Looper of Milwaukee, Wis.; five grandchildren; a great-grandson; and two sisters, Mrs. Foster (Alice) Wolcott of Toledo and Mrs. Myron (Edna) Green of Marshalltown.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Eugene and Robert Olds; and a brother, Noble D. Olds.