Elanda grew up with a brother and a younger step-brother in East Bank, West Virginia. She was the head cheerleader at her high school and later was an outstanding starting guard on a regional Women's basketball team. She then worked as a telephone operator until her first child, Steve, was born. She was a housewife for many years and was involved in the PTA, den mother for the Cub Scouts and later worked seasonally at a department store. She also volunteered for the United Way. She retired as a unit clerk at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
Elanda called many places “home”. She lived in West Virginia; Los Angeles, California; Kent, Washington (near Seattle); and then settled in Ohio about ten years ago to be closer to her children. She liked to read, watch old movies, watch baseball and WVU sports, and read and study the Bible. People consistently described her as "sweet”.
