Walter E. Elkin

Elkin Funeral Held from NCHS Auditorium

Funeral services for Walter E. Elkin were held from the NCHS auditorium Thursday at 2:30 p.m. This was the second funeral to be held at the auditorium, the first being the funeral of the late Senator Frank A. Barrett.

Mr. Elkin, 56, died March 1 in his home. The Rev. James Davis officiated at the services. Peet Mortuary was in charge, with burial in the Lusk Cemetery.

Mrs. Dale M. Bardo played prelude and postlude piano music and was accompanist.

A solo, "Sound of Music" was sung by Marilyn Payne, an eighth grade student, whom Mr. Elkin had instructed. The words of the Broadway song were so appropriate for the occasion that Rev. Davis read them following the solo. Two choral numbers, "Goodnight and Goodmorning" and "Now the Day is Over" were sung by the NCHS Modern Chorus. They were also sung at Mrs. Elkin's funeral in January 1964. Members of the chorus were Carol Taylor, Margretta Smylie, Susan Johnsonbaugh, Donna Fullerton, Mark Lohr, Terry Foley and Bob Bramlet.

Jay Schaefer, who worked with Mr. Elkin the past several years in the Lusk music department, eulogized Mr. Elkin.

Susan Johnsonbaugh, president of the NCHS band, paid tribute to Mr. Elkin on behalf of the students.

Pallbearers were Rex Yocum and Durell Thompson, former Lusk band directors and now of Cheyenne, Les Parsons and Chick Erikson from the Casper Parsons Music Co., and Lee Johnsonbaugh and Otto Krekeler of Lusk.

Walter E. Elkin was born December 23, 1908 in Barstow, Texas. He was the youngest child and only son of four children.

Mr. Elkin lived in Texas until after he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Sul Ross Teacher's College in Alpine, Tex. Prior to this time, he had attended grammar school in Midland, Tex., where at the age of 12 he had a serious illness which resulted in the almost complete loss of his sight. He was able to continue his schooling only by having his lessons read to him. He was graduated from the Texas School for the Blind in Austin and then attended Clarendon Junior College and Simmons University in Abilene, Tex., where he played in the famous cowboy band. Since his graduation from the university he has taken additional instruction in music at the Texas Tech College in Lubuc.

Mrs. Elkin left Texas to teach in Dalton, Nebr. and came to Wyoming in 1952. He taught in Bairoil for three years and was in Lusk and Manville for the remainder of the time.

Mr. Elkin was a member of the Wyoming Education Association, the Elks Lodge, the Seattle Musicians' Union and the Laramie Musicians Fraternal. He was a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Midland, Tex.

Mr. Elkin is survived by three sisters; Mrs. Clan S. Brundson and Mrs. L. L. Wilson of Midland, Tex. and Mrs. L. B. Cooper of Lubuc, Tex., one nephew and three nieces.

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