Thomas Oliver Elkins

He was born on 15 August 1939 in Malvern, Arkansas, but moved with his mother to San Pedro, CA in 1942. He was the oldest of 3 children. He graduated from San Pedro High School in 1957 and joined the Navy as a Torpedoman, but was deployed to the island of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis where he had to survive with his rifle crew after President Kennedy withdrew naval support. He returned to San Pedro after his tour and married his neighbor, Carolyn Bench, in 1964.

Tom worked as an installer for the Pacific Bell telephone company in Los Angeles, working his way up to telecommunications consultant. He retired from the phone company after more than 30 years and moved to Bodfish, CA in 1995 where he was actively involved in various projects with the Mountain View Baptist Church in Lake Isabella.

Thomas is preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn, stepfather Art Maehl, brother Arthur, mother Juanita, and sister Christina. He is survived by his son Thomas, sister-in-law Charlene Bench, and niece Rene Nilsson.