Eldon L. Demuth

SALINA - Eldon L. Demuth, 91, passed away on Aug. 18, 2023.  Born Eldon Leon Demuth on Nov. 2, 1931, in rural Harper County, Okla., to May and Claude Demuth, he was the third child and eldest boy of six children. Eldon and his siblings grew up on a farm north of Rosston, where they rode to school in a homemade bus.

After graduating from Rosston High School in 1949, Eldon attended college for a year at Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla., before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in March 1951. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and auto mechanics training at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., Eldon was stationed at an air base in Niigata, Japan, until March 1954.

After returning to the U.S., Eldon finished his military duty at Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah. Ga. He was honorably discharged in March 1955.

Eldon moved to Wichita, Kansas and was hired at Beech Aircraft where he worked in the aircraft spare parts warehouse before being promoted to an office job taking parts orders from distributors. He worked for the company for nearly 40 years, retiring in 1994.

On April 27, 1957, Eldon married Rozella Lindley of Wichita. The couple had one son, Gary, in 1958. They divorced in 1983 and Rozella died in 1986. Eldon married Patty Post of Salina on Sept. 3, 1983, adding a stepson, Sam, and stepdaughter, Denise, to his family.

After retirement, Eldon and Patty moved to Salina, where Eldon worked part-time in the maintenance department of Sunflower Bank and as a door greeter at Conklin Cars.

Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Wilma, Thelma and Shirley, and wife Patty. He is survived by brothers Merlin (June) Demuth of Bartlesville, Okla., and David (Darlene) Demuth of Bixby, Okla., sons Gary (Marcia) Demuth and Sam (DeeDee) Eslick of Salina, and daughter Denise (Scott) Russell of Chapman. He has eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Visitation and celebration of life for Eldon will be from Noon to 2 p.m. Friday, August 25, 2023 at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina. A short graveside service will follow at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, 2020 E. Iron.

Memorials in Eldon’s name can be gifted to organizations of the donor’s choice.

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