Allie Povall
I met Eldon when he reported aboard the USS Princeton (LPH-5) in 1965 and joined the communications division, which had six or so officers. We became fast friends and remained so for 61 years, culminating our active-duty friendship as roommates at 160 Argonne in Belmont Shores, Long Beach, CA. There, we had -- at least -- weekly parties, walked two blocks to the beach, visited The Anchorage, a local watering hole for junior officers and midwestern girls teaching in southern CA, and dined at a local Italian restaurant that served great pasta washed down with cold white wine. There are many things that stand out about Eldon, but I shall mention only a few. One, he was joyful. In other words, he was filled with joy, and he remained that way until his death. I spoke with him two days before his death. He was as positive as always, and I came away from that conversation feeling that I was the most important person in the world to him. That is the second quality that I will always remember: he made everyone feel that way. And third, and finally, Eldon was a born leader. I saw it on the Princeton, and I believe his life subsequent to the Navy evinced that quality. I am terribly sad to lose my brother officer, but I know that we shall meet again in that great fleet in the far beyond. Requiem in paces, fratres.