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LOREN SPENCER ELLIOT

LOREN SPENCER ELLIOT

Loren Spencer Elliott, son of Mark and Ilah Malinda (Spencer) Elliott, was born March 16, 1923 on his parent’s farm in Rice Township, Ringgold County, Iowa. Loren was a twin to Lois.

Loren graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1941. He worked for a short time at Mount Ayr Security State Bank. He was involved in Mount Ayr High 4-H and FFA farm projects. He attended Iowa State College on a Sears and Roebuck scholarship and monthly $20 loans from twin sister, Lois, along with her fine 1941 Christmas gift of a new Underwood Portable Typewriter. 

Loren entered the US Navy on May 26, 1943 and was honorably discharged February 17, 1946 at Ft Snelling, St. Paul, MN. He served on bases at Farragut, Idaho, Michigan City, IN, Oklahoma A & M at Stillwater, Ward Island, Corpus Christi, TX, Naval Air Base, San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Norfolk, VA, Chicago, IL and one year aboard the U.S.S. Makassar Strait CVE-91.

Loren returned to Iowa State College and graduated in 1949 with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering. He married Alma Anne Barna on April 2, 1948 in the Methodist Collegiate Church in Ames, IA. To this marriage, three sons were born: Mark Stephen Elliott, Robert Loren Elliott, and James Reese Elliott. Loren retired December 31, 1982 from the Soil Conservation Service, USDA, having served as assistant area engineer in Ft Dodge, planning engineer in the Little Sioux Watershed at Sioux City; area engineer in Topeka, KS; and Watershed and River Basin Engineer for the State of Iowa located in Des Moines. They lived in the Des Moines area from 1963 until they moved to Mesa, AZ in 1993.

Loren returned to Mount Ayr as a resident of Clearview Home and he passed away there on January 22, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents; middle son Bob; and all of his siblings which include Zoe Evelyn Nichols, twin sister Lois Lorene Ives, and Jack Mark Elliott.

Survivors include his wife Alma of Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, IA; sons Mark (Susan) Elliott of Gallup, New Mexico and Jim Elliott of Houston, TX; daughter-in-law Margaret Elliott of Des Moines, IA; 3 grandchildren Alissa, Matthew, and Sean.

Services will be held at the Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, IA at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 28, 2016 with Rev. Roy Ives officiating.

There will be a flag presentation and taps provided by U.S. Navy Funeral Honors. There will a private burial at a later day in the Glendale Cemetery at Des Moines, Iowa.

6 Comments

  1. Tim Wilson on May 9, 2019 at 3:21 pm

    I would like to speak to alma if I could.
    My name is Tim Wilson I’m a retired USAF member and helped build a memorial in Ishigaki Japan. Loren and Alma traveled to Japan for the memorial and I’m looking to reach out!

    • Sean Elliott on July 26, 2019 at 3:11 am

      Hello Tim. I am Sean Elliott, the 2nd Grandson of Loren and Alma Elliott. I am a former Active duty Infantryman in the USMC and Iraq War Veteran. Whatsoever you may need It would be my honor to help you in whatever way I can. So long as I am around, you shall never need a second.- Sean R. Elliott

    • Sean Elliott on July 26, 2019 at 3:17 am

      Also Tim upon rereading your comment, it with sadness I must inform you that our beloved Alma, was reunited with her beloved Loren in heaven on October 22, 2017. I reiterate that it would be my honor to speak with you and help you anyway I can.- Sean R. Elliott

    • Mark Elliott on May 17, 2020 at 6:01 pm

      Have a lot of documentation on dad’s Makassar Strait, CVE-91 would like to find a good home for it. Recall you as the one if I not corrected first contacted dad about the memorial. Only one of three sons not living.
      Oldest son Mark

      • Tim Wilson on January 23, 2022 at 3:48 pm

        Mark,
        Hope all is well with you and your family! This is the first time ever reading this! Wow I’m blown away! Your grampaw, was quit a great and unique guy! I enjoyed every minute with him cause his memory and his attitude, even at that age was extraordinarily soooo left me wanting more! He was a great guy man!

  2. Mark Stephen Elliott on March 29, 2023 at 11:23 am

    Now living, have a body of records on CVE-91 WWII carrier, and looking for good home. After peace in Japan for WWII was signed on Mighty MO, the first ship to leave Pearl was the HOPE, a hospital ship. Dad was on the next one a carrier the Mighty MAC, pulled up anchor next to the Arizona, and was heading home, to San Diego. After the Arizona schools left the WAC, San Diego became apart of the BYU, UofUT UofWY, and UNM grouping, wishing them well in final 4.

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