James Howard Elliott

James Howard Elliott, beloved father and grandfather, died Tuesday night, Dec. 29, 2009, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet. Born June 13, 1925, in Emelle, Ala., he was preceded in death by his wife, Emogene Shamberger Elliott; father and mother, Henry Russell Elliott and Helen Whitfield Elliott; brother, Russell Leon Elliott; and sister, Dorris Elliott Hill. He is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Elliott Bingham, of Baton Rouge; and grandson, Dr. Clifton O. Bingham III, rheumatologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge for nearly 50 years. He served in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was a graduate of Livingston University and Auburn University. He retired from Transcontinental Gas Pipeline, now Williams Corp., after a long career as an engineer. He was loved by everyone who met him. His infectious smile and his kind and gentle demeanor brought joy to many people over the years. He lived life to the fullest. After his retirement, he improved his golf game, raised English bulldogs, baked and he continued to exercise by doing Pilates twice a week. He embraced technology with many Internet friends all across the country. He battled heart disease for many years, and was moving forward in a study of a groundbreaking new treatment for aortic valvular disease. Himself affected by arthritis, he was an advocate and supporter of medical research, especially in seeking new treatments and cures for these diseases. He was always thankful and grateful to all the physicians, nurses and other medical staff who provided his care over the years, especially Dr. Eugene Berry, Dr. Scott Thurston, Dr. Boyd Helm, Dr. Katherine Pearce, Dr. Steve Lindsey, Dr. Niels Linschoten and Dr. Douglas Davidson in Baton Rouge, and Dr. Bruce Bowers and Dr. Thomas Dewey in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center Discovery Fund, 5200 Eastern Ave., MFL Center Tower 4100, Baltimore, MD 21224, the American Heart Associationor First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge. Visiting at First Presbyterian Church, Dunham Chapel, on Thursday, Dec. 31, was from 8:30 a.m. until service at 10 a.m. He was buried beside his wife at Ebenezer Church Cemetery, Pennington, Ala. Funeral arrangements handled by Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St.