Elsworth Lawrence "E.L." Wilson, of Marble Falls, passed away Friday, February 12, 2021 at his home.  He was 102 years old.

The son of James Benjamin and Nina (Howerton) Wilson was born May 25, 1918 in Longdale, Oklahoma.

At a young age, E.L.'s family moved to Crooked Creek, southwest of Harrison, and then moved out to the homestead in Marble Falls, where he rode a horse with his siblings to the Basin Valley School.  They moved back to Longdale, Oklahoma where he finished his schooling.

He harvested wheat (on a combine) from Oklahoma to Canada and picked apples in Colorado. E.L. enlisted in the Army from 1941 to 1943.  He was a presidential guard for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, at the White House until he was medically discharged from the Army.

E.L. returned to the Tonkawa and Perry, Oklahoma area to work with the The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus acts.  He was responsible for moving the round stands for the elephants and also was a clown.  At 65 years old, he could still walk on his hands.  E.L. moved to Olney, TX with his brother, Walter, and together they worked on the oil rigs.

He was a guide for the Diamond and Dogpatch (now Mystic Caverns) Caves.  E.L. lived in the woods and had a saw mill which supplied lumber for homes, cedar chests, and woodworking projects.  He supplied lumber all over the Mill Creek area through Pruitt and Jasper.  In the late 1980's and early 1990's, he used a tractor to bring logs down off of Buck Point to help his brother, Walter, saw the logs for a Cabin home.

E.L. enjoyed singing, telling stories of taking care of a few head of cattle, and grinding corn for his chickens.  He loved to recount the story of a fishing trip on Hiner's place, where the Buffalo River flowed, when he caught 60 Rock Bass.  E.L. knew plants and used them for medicine for himself.  He never stayed in the hospital or took any medications, except for an Aspirin a day!  He also enjoyed driving his motorcycle and his truck even in his 80's.

He is the last of his family, except for his sister-in-law and caretaker, Florence Wilson.

E.L. was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mildred Luthye and Mary Drebenstedt; and five brothers, Walter, Wilbur, Carl, James, and L.C. Wilson.

Funeral service is Monday, February 22, 2021 at the Coffman Funeral Home in Jasper at 2:00 p.m.  Pastor Warren Foxworthy and Brother Sam Boyd will officiate.  Burial will be in White Church Cemetery.  Pallbearers include Adam, Wesley, Evan, and Walter Wilson, Ty Hatchett, and John, Walter, and Nicholas Stavroplus.  Honorary pallbearers include the Branson VA Healthcare providers, Dale, Gretta, Wesley and Larry; and several nephews.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.