Eldon Dorrell Louder

David Kenny Louder originally came from Pennsylvania. His mother, Anna Julia Whitsitt was from

Missouri. They had five children, Clayton, Eldon, Denzil, and Melvin (Mick), and Ethyl.

Growing up on a farm had its good times and its tough times. The boys all had their chores to do, they

knew when they were done they could then do what they loved best; hunting, fishing, and trapping,

Eldon earned enough money trapping rabbits, foxes, and raccoons that he was able to buy a .22 caliber

rifle for his hunting. He also talked his dad into letting him buy a blind horse named Trixie that was

headed for the slaughter house. He trained her for riding, jumping and working on the farm, plowing

fields. He did all this at the young age of 12. He showed his brothers how he trained her to jump. Big

mistake! Because they were all pranksters, they had her jump for no reason and he would just be livid.

But, this is where it all started. lt was the beginning of his training and love for animals.

He had an adventurous streak, and he and his cousin, Sam, decided to join Max Bears Traveling Show

that went from town to town. He became quite the wrestler and was hard to beat. They did this over his

thirteenth summer and had such a good time they did it again the next summer. They also traveled by

railroad car which led them to even more adventures. There are far too many to mention here.

He had another love in high school and it was basketball. Believe it or not, all the brothers were on the

same team at the same time. In these years there are endless stories that we have heard from all the

brothers about one thing or another, but the one that sticks out is the year they tied the cow to the

teacher's desk in the old one room school house not too far from their home. She was gaunt when they

took her in the room, but fed her before they left! The story goes, and they all swear to this, they

weren't even in Caldwell County that night!

Eldon married Dorothy after graduating from high school and had one son David (Van Laningham), and a

daughter, Linda (Hayden). They opened a small diner and worked together for several years. They

eventually divorced and Eldon left for California.

Upon arriving to California he joined the Navy and worked as a Payroll Clerk. While attending a USO

dance in Chula Vista, he met Marguerite. They married on August 20, 1943. They had one daughter,

Donna Jean (Rist) born on March 1, 1945 and one son, Eldon Roy, born November 4, 1947.

Their first home was on Cedar Street in Chula Vista where they lived until finding a home in Sunnyside in

1950. Eldon found a new hobby and began training Beagles for hunting. He helped set up the Southern

Chapter of the American Kennel Club for Beagles. These were trial dogs for hunting, not for show.

In the late fifties he turned from dogs to horses. Queenie, a thoroughbred and a former race horse, was

his first. He had many different breeds of horses, but seemed most happy with the Quarter horse for

cutting and roping and ranch work, and later Arabs for endurance and cross-country riding, then

Mustangs for the challenge of training. Training was his goal and his enjoyment. He usually sold his

horse after he finished all the training and the person that bought it was the proud recipient of a polished product. There are many Buckskins, Sorrels, Duns, and Dapple Grays that have been trained by

Eldon that still grace the fields of Sunnyside and San Diego County.

Eldon worked in the transit department for Bank of America for over thirty years. He retired from

banking and became a patrolman for Sweetwater Authority and worked for them for another 10 years.

While at Sweetwater Lake he actually roped a Volkswagen and stopped the car. Yes, he was on

horseback. His horse at the time was the biggest Buckskin he had owned and he proved his worth that

day. They made the Chula Vista Star-News as the only car that had ever been roped on Sweetwater

Lake!

Eldon moved to Loveland Lake just southeast of Alpine to become the caretaker. He was given a

caretaker's home and his horses became his mode of transportation when he patrolled the lake. He

used Arabs then because they were so much better for endurance. The poachers didn't expect someone

to come up on them on horseback, so the element of surprise became his best means for an arrest,

Many left their fishing poles and made a run for it, and many stories resulted from that, No one got to

keep their fish, so the poachers always had to tell about the one that got away. However, not many

poachers went back as they never knew when or where Eldon would show up! And it was a $1500.00

fine!

When he retired from Sweetwater Authority in the 80s he turned to riding Quarter horses and

Mustangs. As a result of failing eyesight he agreed to turn in his drivers' license and really counted on

horses for his transportation. He could still see enough (or so he said) to ride his neighbors horses to

keep them from becoming barn sour. Sometimes he would take off with three horses and ride all of

them throughout the day. He'd ride from San Miguel Mountain to Jamul and back. He couldn't believe

people would pay him for that!

When he could no longer ride a horse he could be seen walking along with his dog (using the sand at the

edge of the road and the black top as a line) to keep in shape. Eldon was 95 years old on April 5, 2011

when the Good Lord called him to ride the last "Happy Trail".

He leaves a wonderful legacy of 4 children, 9 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 4 great-great

grandchildren!

This man loved and lived life!

Arrangements under the direction of Glen Abbey Mortuary, Bonita, CA.