Eldon Wiley

Eldon Wiley

Oskaloosa. Eldon Wiley, 90, of Oskaloosa, died Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at Northern Mahaska Nursing and Rehab Center in Oskaloosa. He was born January 17, 1921 at Montezuma, the son of Charles H. and Myrtle G. Goreham Wiley. Eldon served in the United States Army from December 11, 1942 until honorably discharged on December 29, 1945. He served in the 14th Armored Division, and was a sharp shooter and Morse code radio operator and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, and served in the follow-up troops that invaded Adolph Hitler’s residence, and helped liberate many P.O.W. camps. He received two Bronze Stars. An army buddy’s journal is being published entitled “Tonight, I Got My Orders” which Eldon is a part of; Eldon received his ‘Orders from God’ before getting a chance to read the new book. Following his discharge, he returned home and went to work for A.J. Blakely farms near Grinnell. He then farmed for a year for himself. On August 24, 1941, he was united in marriage to Glema Sanders at Unionville, Missouri, and Glema died March 17, 2010. In 1948, they moved to Oskaloosa and Eldon worked in the strip mine west of Oskaloosa. He also worked for several oil stations in Oskaloosa. In the early 1950’s he went to work for Clow in Oskaloosa, and retired in 1983 after 30 years of service. He enjoyed woodworking, pitching horseshoes, camping, and traveling. Eldon was a member of the V.F.W. and D.A.V., and attended Calvary Bible Church in Oskaloosa.

His family includes his three daughters and their husbands: Bonnie and Dean Comstock of Oskaloosa, Wanda and Bill Schultz of Montezuma and Roberta “Bert” and Charlie McMillian of New Sharon; 11 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; a great great grandson; and a brother: Robert Wiley of Splendora, Texas.

In addition to his wife, Eldon was preceded in death by his parents; a son: Rodney Wiley; and two brothers: Evan and David Wiley.

Funeral services for Eldon Wiley will be held Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Reverend Dr. Douglas Smiley officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Visitation will begin Friday after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel, and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Friday from 6 – 8 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the Eldon Wiley Memorial Fund.

Source: Bates Funeral Chapel