John Elder

1927 - 2015

John William Elder
1927-2015
John William Elder, born in Garden City, New York. The son of Etelka Horvath Elder and Charles St. Clair Elder. Beloved father of Charles Jago Elder (Nick).
As a boy, Johnny sang in the Garden City Cathedral Choir and played the French horn in the school band. He graduated with honors from The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut. After serving in the Army at the end of World War II, he returned to Yale University and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Relatively soon after graduation Mr. Elder moved to Houston with The Atlantic Mutual Company. Shortly thereafter he joined a venerable insurance broking firm which ultimately became known as Wray, Couch, and Elder. The firm merged with Marsh & McLennan in 1969. Mr. Elder rose to become a Managing Director and ran the southwest region of the company. His responsibilities included managing all operations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. His steady leadership helped Marsh grow throughout the 1970's and '80's. He served on many boards, amongst them the YMCA.
He was a member of the Bayou Club, Houston Country Club, Eagle Lake Rod and Gun Club, Allegro, the Bohemian Club in California, the Washington County Riding Club, and the Brenham Country Club. He is a past President of the Bayou Club and the Eagle Lake Rod & Gun Club.
Johnny enjoyed tennis and started the Bayou Bowl in 1966. He was an avid and experienced sailor and loved flying his own plane. He loved golf, hunting and fishing. Riding at his ranch in Washington County and Estes Park, Colorado was another of his favorite pastimes as well as following his racing stable and playing late-night piano. He was predeceased in death by his parents, his sister, Margaret Elder Neuhaus, his brother, Charles St. Clair Elder, Jr., and his son, Charles Jago Elder (Nick).
Survivors include his wife Virginia Jago Elder; nephews Joseph Rice Neuhaus, Jr. and Charles Elder Neuhaus; nieces Laura Neuhaus Pew, and Margaret Neuhaus Weekley; his godson Michael Weekley; many great nieces and nephews; Burina Brown; and his many friends including Wahoo and Sally.
He lived life to the fullest and never stopped.
A memorial service is to be conducted at four o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 1st of July, in the Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where The Rev. Janet W. Dantone, Associate Rector is to officiate.
A private interment service will be held in Chappell Hill, Texas at a later date.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Paul Gervais Bell, Joe Brown, Ben Guill, John Hastings, David Lummis, William Lummis, Charles Neuhaus, Joe Neuhaus, Stuart Phelps and Peter Sundt.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to Old Friends (A Kentucky facility for retired Thoroughbreds), 1841 Paynes Depot Rd., Georgetown, KY, 40324; Remember Me Rescue, 4100 Conveyor Drive, Burleson, TX, 76028; or the Houston SPCA, 900 Portway Dr., Houston, TX, 77024.