1927
Thomas
2016
Thomas Elder
March 1, 1927 — February 3, 2016
Thomas J. Elder, 88, of Fayetteville, PA, passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at his home. Born March 1, 1927 in Philadelphia, PA, he was the first born child of the late Herman and Floy Loose Elder. Thomas’ paternal grandfather of his same name was a veteran of the Civil War as a member of the 12th Penna. Vol. Cavalry. His father was a wounded veteran of World War I as a member of the 103 MC Batt., 42nd Division. Thomas grew up with a strong sense of military duty.
When Thomas was two years old his family bought a farmette in Blue Bell, Montgomery County, PA. He later became a Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Star Scout and was well on his way toward Life rank when he graduated from High School and had to leave for military service. He received a scholarship from the U.S. Army to attend college in engineering at age 17 and entered Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. He later was transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and eventually was inducted into the army.
One of Thomas’ fondest childhood memories was participating in a graphics contest sponsored by a local bakery. He won and received a brand new balloon-tired bike. Thomas had a strong art aptitude and did well in all school art subjects. This carried over into college where he studied the history of architecture. Thomas had a strong motivation as a youth to achieve three goals: To have a college degree, to become a professional engineer and to become an officer in the army. Eventually he achieved all three of these goals. Thomas was in basic training when WWII ended and was transferred to the Corps of Engineers. He was assigned to the Engineer Corps cadre at USMA, West Point, NY. Upon discharge from active duty in October 1946, Thomas enrolled at Cornell University in Civil Engineering and graduated in 1950. While at Cornell, Thomas was inducted into several honor societies including Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon and upon graduation, Thomas started his career with Bethlehem Steel Corporation in their Fabricated Steel Division. Thomas left Bethlehem in 1976 as a Project Manager of construction. Some of his more notable structures were the Jamestown to Newport Narragansett Bay Bridge, the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge at Memphis, TN and the Hudson River Bridge at Newburgh, New York. During this time Thomas served 14 years in the Army Reserve as an officer in the Corps of Engineers 990th Construction Battalion. When Bethlehem Steel went out of business Thomas joined the Pittsburgh, PA engineering firm of Swindell Dressler (later Pullman Swindell) as Project Director of the firm’s steel mill project in Venezuela. In this work, PSW was a licensee to a Mexican steel company on an iron-making process to build steel mills worldwide. This business failed when the international oil market went down and third world countries could no longer afford to build steel plants. Thomas then joined the New York engineering firm of Steinman, Boynton, Gronquist and Birdsall and went to Chicago to open a branch for them. Finally, Thomas spent ten years with the Lake Forest, IL engineering firm of James Anderson Co. working in municipal engineering.
Thomas always had a strong civic duty motivation and over the years served many institutions in volunteer capacities, especially at his church. He was also an avid outdoorsman who loved gardening and nurturing trees and shrubs. He had many craft skills and did projects in woodwork, stained glass, rush materials and wood carving. He and Rosemary enjoyed traveling and were on numerous ocean cruises, Elder Hostel trips and other adventures.
Thomas’ marriage to Lee Ann Hall ended amicably. They had three children, Susan, Andrea, and Douglas who survive him along with six grandchildren. Thomas is also survived by his wife, Rosemary Ginter Elder, whom he married in 1985. In addition to his parents, Thomas is preceded in death by his sister Ann who died in 2010.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA.
When Thomas was two years old his family bought a farmette in Blue Bell, Montgomery County, PA. He later became a Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Star Scout and was well on his way toward Life rank when he graduated from High School and had to leave for military service. He received a scholarship from the U.S. Army to attend college in engineering at age 17 and entered Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. He later was transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and eventually was inducted into the army.
One of Thomas’ fondest childhood memories was participating in a graphics contest sponsored by a local bakery. He won and received a brand new balloon-tired bike. Thomas had a strong art aptitude and did well in all school art subjects. This carried over into college where he studied the history of architecture. Thomas had a strong motivation as a youth to achieve three goals: To have a college degree, to become a professional engineer and to become an officer in the army. Eventually he achieved all three of these goals. Thomas was in basic training when WWII ended and was transferred to the Corps of Engineers. He was assigned to the Engineer Corps cadre at USMA, West Point, NY. Upon discharge from active duty in October 1946, Thomas enrolled at Cornell University in Civil Engineering and graduated in 1950. While at Cornell, Thomas was inducted into several honor societies including Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon and upon graduation, Thomas started his career with Bethlehem Steel Corporation in their Fabricated Steel Division. Thomas left Bethlehem in 1976 as a Project Manager of construction. Some of his more notable structures were the Jamestown to Newport Narragansett Bay Bridge, the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge at Memphis, TN and the Hudson River Bridge at Newburgh, New York. During this time Thomas served 14 years in the Army Reserve as an officer in the Corps of Engineers 990th Construction Battalion. When Bethlehem Steel went out of business Thomas joined the Pittsburgh, PA engineering firm of Swindell Dressler (later Pullman Swindell) as Project Director of the firm’s steel mill project in Venezuela. In this work, PSW was a licensee to a Mexican steel company on an iron-making process to build steel mills worldwide. This business failed when the international oil market went down and third world countries could no longer afford to build steel plants. Thomas then joined the New York engineering firm of Steinman, Boynton, Gronquist and Birdsall and went to Chicago to open a branch for them. Finally, Thomas spent ten years with the Lake Forest, IL engineering firm of James Anderson Co. working in municipal engineering.
Thomas always had a strong civic duty motivation and over the years served many institutions in volunteer capacities, especially at his church. He was also an avid outdoorsman who loved gardening and nurturing trees and shrubs. He had many craft skills and did projects in woodwork, stained glass, rush materials and wood carving. He and Rosemary enjoyed traveling and were on numerous ocean cruises, Elder Hostel trips and other adventures.
Thomas’ marriage to Lee Ann Hall ended amicably. They had three children, Susan, Andrea, and Douglas who survive him along with six grandchildren. Thomas is also survived by his wife, Rosemary Ginter Elder, whom he married in 1985. In addition to his parents, Thomas is preceded in death by his sister Ann who died in 2010.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA.
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