Page 95 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2018 - Online Magazine

his first crush, a
little girl named
Maureen; he can
describe the color
of her hair nine
decades later. He
confesses to a few
childhood pranks,
but we will refrain
from going into
detail to protect
the innocent.
When asked what
he wanted to be
when he grew up, WE SUPPORT OUR VETERANS!
he stated, “Not a
President. I wanted to go back and buy me a farm.”
He was the fifth of seven children born to Gustav
William and Wallie Rose Miel. They were farmers,
and that’s what Eldie knew. He noted that “Dad 806.794.5990• 4905 S. Loop 289
was a dirt farmer, and the family was dirt poor.”
He also remembered that, during the Depression, www.collisionking.com
most folks were poor. Young Eldie wanted to
continue his education, but by the end of the 7th
grade, he was “working from sunup to sundown
and had no time to go to school.” After the service,
he trained as a carpenter and loved working with to Barbara who was on the phone from Arkansas
wood. during our interview.

The dreary foxholes in the Aleutian Islands served
to fortify Eldie’s inner strength, which enabled
him to handle challenges later in life. He lost one
of his sons at age 62. And he supported, cared for,
and eventually outlived both of his wives. He was
married to Anne Merle Ratliff for 24 years and to
Odessa Marie Houx for 40 years.

His favorite secular song is “The Yellow Rose of
Texas”, and he likes the gospel song “When the
Roll is Called Up Yonder”. He is a huge Miranda
Lambert fan and is very enthusiastic as he talks
about following her life and career for years. His
family has saved her picture to his phone’s home
screen, and he calls her his “girlfriend, but she don’t
know it yet.”
He heard about the Honor Flight from his daughter
Barbara McFarlin, who accompanied him as his
Guardian on the “trip of a lifetime.” Special thanks

Lubbock Senior Link 95