Thomas Preston Elder
December 9, 1933 — July 27, 2024
Thomas Preston Elder, 90, of Damascus, AR passed away peacefully on July 27, 2024. He was
born December 9, 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Pauline A. Elder and his parents, Catherine and HB Elder.
He is survived by his daughters, Dee Ann Elder Thomas and Paula Lee “Missye” Elder. His two
granddaughters, Svetlana (Aaron) Wanzer and Marina Thomas and three great grandsons,
Gabriel, Arlington and Quincy Wanzer.
Tom was seemingly born for the next great adventure and service to those around him. As a
military kid growing up across the country, his thirst for travel and service ran deep. He joined
the US Air Force at a young age, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam wars during his 20
year career which took him and his family around the world. His eyes and ears were always
looking and listening to the skies for airplanes and the clouds they may be hiding in. One of his
greatest joys in life were being asked by a fighter pilot to come fly in the backseat with them. He
reflected on those many rides through his final days. Tom was a forever patriot and proud
supporter of those in service to our country.
The habit of tinkering with anything and everything served him well as an airplane mechanic as
well as his second career as a offshore rig mechanic with Rowan Drilling Company International
for 30 years. There too he was able to travel the world from the shores of Louisiana, to the
North Sea, and anywhere a drilling platform may be.
Even though travel and flying were high on his list of joys, the absolute most important thing to
him was his wife, and love of his life, of 60 years, Mrs. Pauline and their daughters Dee and
Missye. Tom and Pauline were a true duo. Both, blessed with the “gift of gab” and care for
others, they never met a stranger no matter what continent they happened upon. Their door
was always open to anyone seeking a cup of coffee or a Pep (Pepsi), a dinner party of friends, a
UCA woodcut or a community Christmas breakfast.
Tom was proud of his daughters’ and granddaughters’ accomplishments in their chosen careers
and forever their cheerleader. He shared his love for travel, reading and lifelong learning with each of them and knew his young great grandsons were being taught those same values and lifelong joys.
Tom was quick with a joke, comment or compliment and would help anyone at any time.
Seldom one to say an actual goodbye, Tom would say a simple flying phrase. “Keep your wings
level and your nose up.” You knew then that he believed in you and had your back.
Dee and Missye would like to say a special thanks to Jordan Bass and her amazing team and
Magnolia Landing and the Gentiva Hospice nurses that loved on and cared for him so
unselfishly this past six months.
There will be a graveside service at Martinville Cemetery on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 11:00am.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Tom’s name to Magnolia
Landing #1 Ball Hill Drive, Greenbrier, AR 72058 or The Gentiva Foundation 770 Factory St.
Conway, AR 72032.
born December 9, 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Pauline A. Elder and his parents, Catherine and HB Elder.
He is survived by his daughters, Dee Ann Elder Thomas and Paula Lee “Missye” Elder. His two
granddaughters, Svetlana (Aaron) Wanzer and Marina Thomas and three great grandsons,
Gabriel, Arlington and Quincy Wanzer.
Tom was seemingly born for the next great adventure and service to those around him. As a
military kid growing up across the country, his thirst for travel and service ran deep. He joined
the US Air Force at a young age, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam wars during his 20
year career which took him and his family around the world. His eyes and ears were always
looking and listening to the skies for airplanes and the clouds they may be hiding in. One of his
greatest joys in life were being asked by a fighter pilot to come fly in the backseat with them. He
reflected on those many rides through his final days. Tom was a forever patriot and proud
supporter of those in service to our country.
The habit of tinkering with anything and everything served him well as an airplane mechanic as
well as his second career as a offshore rig mechanic with Rowan Drilling Company International
for 30 years. There too he was able to travel the world from the shores of Louisiana, to the
North Sea, and anywhere a drilling platform may be.
Even though travel and flying were high on his list of joys, the absolute most important thing to
him was his wife, and love of his life, of 60 years, Mrs. Pauline and their daughters Dee and
Missye. Tom and Pauline were a true duo. Both, blessed with the “gift of gab” and care for
others, they never met a stranger no matter what continent they happened upon. Their door
was always open to anyone seeking a cup of coffee or a Pep (Pepsi), a dinner party of friends, a
UCA woodcut or a community Christmas breakfast.
Tom was proud of his daughters’ and granddaughters’ accomplishments in their chosen careers
and forever their cheerleader. He shared his love for travel, reading and lifelong learning with each of them and knew his young great grandsons were being taught those same values and lifelong joys.
Tom was quick with a joke, comment or compliment and would help anyone at any time.
Seldom one to say an actual goodbye, Tom would say a simple flying phrase. “Keep your wings
level and your nose up.” You knew then that he believed in you and had your back.
Dee and Missye would like to say a special thanks to Jordan Bass and her amazing team and
Magnolia Landing and the Gentiva Hospice nurses that loved on and cared for him so
unselfishly this past six months.
There will be a graveside service at Martinville Cemetery on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 11:00am.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Tom’s name to Magnolia
Landing #1 Ball Hill Drive, Greenbrier, AR 72058 or The Gentiva Foundation 770 Factory St.
Conway, AR 72032.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas Preston Elder, please visit our flower store.