This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8422 Message Board Post: Daily Independent newspaper Ridgecrest Ca Kern County June 16, 2005 ELMO EUGENE SLATON 1923-2005 Ridgecrest resident Elmo Eugene Slaton went "home" on Monday June 13, 2005. He was 82. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday June 18 at 1:30 pm at the Church of the Nazarene, 571 N. Norma St. Mr. Slaton was born Jan. 4,1923 in Branson, Mo. He attended Oak Grove School, a one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade. After school he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and Boeing before he was drafted into the Army Air Corp in 1943. He proudly served his country during World War II as a Corporal in England. At the close of the war he was discharged and married the love of his life Ivol Taves in December 19745. He began his civil service career in Hawthorne, Nev. as an ordnance man, which eventually brought him to China Lake in 1955. He was promoted to ordnance man leader. He retired from Federal Service in 1978. He was a member of the 96th Bomb Group Association. During his retirement years he enjoyed social functions at church and around the community, traveling the country and world with Ivol and friends from church and playing Santa Claus for his granddaughter. He served his church as an usher and treasurer for the senior citizens. Although the accomplishment he is most proud of is his family. He will be remembered by his community as a good neighbor and a proud, patriotic American, by his church as a faithful servant and by his family as an excellent provider, an honest man and a man of integrity. He was preceded in death by his father and mother Edmond and Gertie Slaton, sister Mildred, brother Troy, children Dave and Baby Mae and wife Ivol Slaton. He is survived by a daughter Nancy Jenkins, granddaughter Jennifer Jenkins, son-in-law Larry Jenkins, brothers David and Don Slaton and many nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements provided by Holland & Lyons Mortuary. Media information provided by the family.