October 8, 1939 - January 1, 2024
Eldon Eugene Constable was born October 8, 1939, in Salina, KS to parents Loran Lawrence and Mary Nina (Goldsby) Constable. He lived in Salina and attended schools there until the age of 16. In March of his junior year, he moved to Lakewood, Colorado with his parents. Eldon then attended Alameda High School in Lakewood, where he played the tuba and coronet in band, which he did throughout his high school years. He was also a member of the Colorado State High School band. He graduated from Alameda High School in 1957. He attended higher education classes throughout his lifetime.
On November 27, 1957, he married his beautiful Salina sweetheart, Mary Mildred Hinderliter. They lived and worked in Salina for a while before moving to Colorado, where they started a family and raised 3 children, Mary "Colleen", Rodney Eugene and Sheila Marie. They lived in Northglenn then relocated to rural Elbert County in the early 1970's.
Eldon started working at the early age of 14, as a soda jerk at Andreens drug store in Salina. During the summertime in high school, EJdon worked on his Uncle Elbert Goldsby's farm during wheat harvest in Norton County, KS. He also learned to weld and worked at his paternal grandparents' shop, Superior Welding, in Salina. He continued to work for Superior Welding after graduation.
After Eldon and Mary relocated to Colorado, he was employed by TRW in Denver, mong other places. He eventually found his dream job at defense contractor, Martin Marietta, later known as Lockheed Martin and worked there for over 37 years. He loved his career as an aerospace engineer. His inventions for some of the space mission projects earned numerous patents and awards. Eldon's ability to troubleshoot was his special skill, and he was called into service by NASA multiple times, going to various locations around the country to resolve technical issues.
After the children were grown, he and Mary purchased a home east of Parker. He retired from Lockheed Martin in 1998. He soon returned to wo'rk, this time for Danella Utility Construction, successfully bidding a million-dollar job his first day. He loved to invent and make things.
Eldon was proud to have served his country by joining the Kansas Army National Guard at age 16. Seventeen was the age limit at the time but the recruiter said close enough and he was in. He transferred to the Colorado Army National Guard
and was stationed at Camp George in Golden. Later he joined Colorado Air National Guard at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora.
Eldon developed a love for horses in his early childhood while he spent time with his cousins on the family farms in Lenora, KS. He enjoyed training several of his own horses, the last being a wild pinto pony by the name of Prince. Riding his motorcycles, airplanes, leather work, panning for gold, shooting sports, including archery, western movies and Jujutsu were favorite pastimes. Many of the younger family members were taught to shoot, fish and maybe even learned a swear word or two from "Grampy".
Eldon passed away January 1, 2024, peacefully in his sleep in Holyoke, Colorado after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. He was preceded into heaven by his parents, Loran and Nina Constable and son-in-law Jesse Jenson. Left behind to celebrate his life are his wife of 66 years, Mary, brother Larry Dean (Karen) Constable of Thornton, daughter Colleen (Javier) Ochoa of Wray, son Rodney (Sarah) Constable of Grand Rapids, Michigan and daughter Sheila Constable of Johnstown. Grandchildren Alaina (Levi) Lueth of Merino, Gabriel (Ashley) Ochoa of Wray, A. Lynnaya Baker of Tacoma, WA, 5 great grandchildren and numerous other family members have fond memories to help them through. There was cremation. Services will be held in Wray at Schmidt Jones Mortuary on March 16, 2024 at 11 AM. lnurnment will be at Grandview Cemetery following.
Memorials can be made in his honor to the Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE ist Street, Ste 800., Miami, Fl 33131, USA or to the Colorado Air National Guard, 233rd Space Group, 2605 E. 8th St., Greeley, CO 80631.
Memorial Service
Saturday, March 16, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home
427 ADAMS
WRAY, CO 80758
