Eldon Price Obituary

Eldon Niel Price peacefully passed away early in the morning of February 6th at his home in Colorado Springs.

Eldon was born in St. Paul, Nebraska on February 2, 1923. He graduated from Dannebrog High School in 1940 and attended Doane College and the University of Nebraska, before going on to graduate from California Polytechnic University in 1949 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator toward the end of WWII, with a total of 20 years of service including the Naval Reserves. He worked as a Test Pilot for 10 years, and then in Marketing for Douglas Aircraft Company/McDonnell-Douglas for 40 years. At the peak of his career, he managed all of McDonnell-Douglas' western regional offices. But perhaps Eldon's greatest achievement was inventing the airspeed & altitude calibration system still used today for all commercial airliners.

Eldon married Marjorie (Joyce) in Banff, Alberta, Canada on June 3, 1955. They had three children, Shirleyan, Tracie and Stewart. The family's summers were spent at Lake Windermere, British Columbia where Marj's parents lived. Eldon enjoyed woodworking, golfing and travel. He and Marj went on numerous cruises throughout the world.

In 2006, Eldon authored "Senior Birdman: The Guy Who Just Had to Fly", a colorful autobiography that retells his fascination with flight. The book won the Eric Hoffer Award in the category of Legacy/Non-Fiction.

Marj and Eldon lived in California, Nebraska, and Colorado and have spent their last ten years together at Liberty Heights Retirement Community in Colorado Springs.

Eldon loved Big Band music, trivia questions, Husker football, ice cream, English bulldogs, and most of all, his loving family and friends.

Eldon is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of 61 years, daughters Shirleyan (David Spira) Price of Denver, Tracie (Steve) Broome of Colorado Springs, and son Stewart (Kit) Price of Waunakee, WI. Eight grandchildren: Heather (Greg Babush) Holden, Daniel Spira, Jeremy (Sessy) Spira, Chelsea (Tony) Fisher, Michael Broome, Gwendolyn, Weston & Josette Price, and one great-grandchild, Arden Spira.

A "Celebration of Life" service is being held at Liberty Heights, Colorado Springs on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. (A private burial took place at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Dannebrog, Nebraska.)

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in remembrance of Eldon can be made to "Columbia Hall", 711 E. Depot Street, Dannebrog, NE 68831 or the "Springs Rescue Mission," 5 W. Las Vegas Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.