Eldon Burnell Pulsipher

Eldon Burnell Pulsipher
Monday morning, December 10, 2018, Eldon Burnell Pulsipher, age 93, passed away at his home in St. Johns. Eldon Pulsipher, 11th child, 8th son of Daniel Pulsipher and Elva Heap Pulsipher Sorenson McFate, was born 31st of August 1925 on his parents’ anniversary.

Born in St. Johns, he spent the first 18 years in St. Johns until he was drafted into the United States Army where he served in the 10th Mountain Division, WWII. He was inducted the 26th of May, 1944 and honorably discharged on the 3rd of January, 1946. When WWII was over, Eldon went to BYU for two winters using the GI Bill and was then called by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve a mission in Norway. He was there 29 and a half months and then went back to BYU to finish his education. While there, Eldon met Glenda Virl Goates. They married on the 27th of February, 1954 and he graduated on the 7th of June, 1954.

Eldon and Glenda returned to St. Johns for a few days and then went on to Tempe where he began his graduate work at Arizona State University in Education Administration. He continued graduate classes during the summers and taught school during the school year. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in 1958 from ASU.

Eldon taught school in St. Johns for a total of 35 years and coached sports along with it. He also ran the time clock for the high school basketball games for a total of 37 years. He retired from the St. Johns School District in May of 1989 and then substituted another four years.

He served in many civic and church duties and participated in many community plays and recitations. He was chairman of Apache County Fair Commission, President of St. Johns Rotary Club and Secretary of the Lyman Water Company 1959-1999. He served in local, area and state Classroom Teachers Association positions for six years.

After marriage to Glenda for 63 years, Eldon lost his wife to Pancreatic Cancer the 12th of January, 2017. Eldon is survived by his children, Janet, Paul, Valene, Lorena, Kalynn and Julie, 19 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren with a 25th soon to be born. He is also considered a second dad to Ernest and Pat Ballejos. He was the last one of his generation and will be sorely missed by all.

A viewing will be held Friday, December 14, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Burnham Mortuary, St. Johns. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 15, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Downtown Chapel, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow the funeral services at the St. Johns Westside Cemetery.