James (Jim) Delwin Elrod Sr. of Ingram Texas, at the age of 90 went to be with his Lord on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at a Kerrville care center. He was born on Feb. 24, 1921 in Jonesburo, Arkansas to Grover and Ruth "Clements" Elrod. He married his first wife Madeleine (Brunner), in 1941. Jim's dream as a young man was to be an engineer, but it seemed impossible as he was unable to enter college after high school. He went to work in hydraulic research in Detroit, Michigan. By the end of WWII Jim told his father it was too cold to work on machinery outside in the winter, and said he was going west to Southern California. With his father's blessing, he mad it to California with his wife and 2 year old son. He began work as a technician in the Hydraulic Lab at the Pacific Division of Bendix Aviation, which gave him the opportunity to work with engineers designing commercial and aviation experimental components for hydraulic systems. After WWII, airplanes, farm implements, automobiles and tractors ere being modernized using advances in new engineering technology. During this time, Jim's family grew with the addition of a daughter. He made it a point to take the family to see his parents every two years, driving non-stop from California to Michigan. While working to support his family, Jim was still able to take night classes at work and sometimes college courses at a local junior college. He became an Amateur Radio Operator and expanded his knowledge of electronics, radio transmitters, electrical power and controls. Jim transferred with Bendix to Advanced Telemetry Dept. as a Liaison Engineer. When the Chief Engineer left for a Department Manager's job at Lockheed, Jim went with him as a Vehicle Engineer to work non the Lockheed Agena vehicle. In 1963 Lockheed transferred Jim to NASA's Houston Johnson Space Center to work on the Gemini Agena program with the original seven astronauts. After a long career Jim retired to Kingwood, Texas. In 1986, he married his second wife, Sue (Cox Jeffress). Together they traveled extensively for several years, and then relocated to Ingram, Texas in 1999. Jim was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Kerrville, the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Lodge. He joined the Hill Country Ham Radio Club after moving to Ingram. Jim was a avid car lover and corvette owner, and he loved amateur radio. He is preceded in death by his parents, first wife, sister Lucille Fetz and daughter Paige Atkinson.
James is survived by his loving wife Sue Elrod of Ingram, Texas; son James Elrod Jr and wife Connie of Port St. Lucie, Florida; son in-law Neely Atkinson of Houston, Texas; stepchildren Charles Jeffress and wife Linda of Kurten, Texas, Scott Jeffress and wife Amy of Austin, Texas, Mark Jeffress and wife Julia of Pylesviille, MD; grandchildren Morgan Alkire, Zachary Alkire, Kelsey Alkire, Garrett Elrod and Melissa, Nicholaus Elrod, Jonathan Elrod and Kristen; step grandchildren Emma Atkinson, Gentry Atkinson, Jennifer Jeffress, Drew Jeffress, Angela Jeffress, Anthony Jeffress, Schuyler Jeffress and Jude Jeffress, 6 great grandchildren and many other family members and friends who love him will miss him.
Memorial services will be held 1:30pm, Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church of Kerrville, Texas.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church of American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.
Burial will be held at a later date at Forrest Lawn Cemetery in Houston Texas.
