Obituary for Eldon Felix, Jr.

Eldon Robert Felix, Jr.

July 12, 1926 – March 13, 2018

Eldon Robert Felix, Jr., of Wellsville, Kansas, passed from this life on Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

Born on July 12, 1926 in Oklahoma City to Thelma Calder Felix and Eldon Robert Felix, Sr., Eldon graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City. During his WWII US Army Air Corps service, Eldon was deployed to Okinawa where he served as a B-29 ground crew chief. Even in wartime, Eldon managed to befriend a Japanese POW, “Shorty,” who was part of a work crew Eldon oversaw. Despite the language barrier, they became friends, and Shorty presented Eldon with a hand made B-29 model, which became one of Eldon’s treasures. Eldon’s act of reconciliation defined his character and inspired all who knew this story.

Eldon met the love of his life at age 16, spying her playing softball and giving her a ride home on his bike’s handlebars. It was love at first sight. On April 5, 1947, he married Joyce Elaine Self in McAlester, Oklahoma. They spent 67 loving years together until Joyce’s death in 2014. Eldon attended Oklahoma City University and the couple settled in Chickasha, Oklahoma. They later moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma where he owned a franchise of the popular snack brand Tom’s, which he operated successfully until his retirement. He and Joyce enjoyed traveling with Ponca City friends, and Eldon became a dedicated volunteer who was very involved in his community, helping to plan and run Ponca City’s Festival of Angels for many years. A special joy was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on a Caribbean cruise with their children and grandchildren in 1997. They later moved to Ottawa, Kansas and eventually to Wellsville Retirement Community in Wellsville, Kansas.

Friendly, open, and with a wicked sense of humor, Eldon made friends throughout his life, and everyone who knew him was better for the experience . He was a loyal and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, son, friend and colleague and was a man of principle who always did what he believed to be the right thing. He loved his stamp collection which he started at age 9; golfing with friends; gardening; tinkering and building things; and fishing (but throwing the fish back in because he hated fish!).

He is survived by his daughter, Sandy Shroyer and husband Phil, of Wimberley, Texas, and his son, Larry Felix and wife Leanna, of Rogers, Arkansas. He is also survived by grandchildren, Jessica Crocker and husband Andrew, of Springfield, Missouri; Grayson Shroyer and wife Christina of Dripping Springs, Texas; Brian Felix and wife Mandy, of Lone Jack, Missouri; and Amelia Shroyer and husband Nicolaas of Stockholm, Sweden. He also leaves behind four great-granddaughters, Kaylee and Jordyn Felix of Lone Jack, Missouri, and Adelyn and Brooklyn Crocker of Springfield, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife and soul mate, Joyce Elaine Felix.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Resthaven Memorial Park in Ponca City with Reverend Aaron Robertson of First Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Ponca City Festival of Angels, 92 Stoneridge, Ponca City, OK 74604.

Source: Trout Funeral Home