Gale C. McElwain

Gale C. McElwain, 81, a resident of Albuquerque since 1977, passed away on March 7, 2017. He was born in Chicago, IL, to Harry and Martha McElwain. After graduating from Casey High School, he attended Eastern Illinois University for a year before he joined the Army. A Korean War veteran, he served for three years, two of which were at Camp Zama in Japan, before returning to Eastern Illinois. He then began a career in the ministry and was a pastor at churches in Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin and New Mexico. In the early 1970s, he was based for four years in Minneapolis, MN, where he worked in marketing for World Wide Pictures, a subsidiary of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Gale is survived by son, Gregory of Tunis, Tunisia, son, Jeffrey and wife, Jeanetta of Albuquerque, daughter, Lori and husband, Michael Ellis of Rio Rancho, and daughter, Julie and husband, Melvin Brown of Flagstaff, AZ. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Amanda Arnold, Kelly Eaton, Suzanna Garcia, Megan Dominguez, Tara Thompson, Jacob Brown, and Liberty Ellis; eight great-grandchildren; his sister, Linda Spencer; his brothers, Terry and Gordon McElwain; and many nieces and nephews.
A Graveside Service will be held Monday, March 20, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Donations in Gale's memory can be made to the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 401706 or on their website, www.dav.org.
FRENCH - Westside
9300 Golf Course Rd NW
505-897-0300