Obituaries : A. Rhodes Elder; Ex-School Official

A. Rhodes (Dusty) Elder, retired business manager for the Burbank Unified School District, has died at a North Hollywood hospital. He was 83.

A longtime Burbank resident, Elder died Thursday of heart failure, said his son, Gary Elder of Claremont.

Born in Harrisonville, Mo., Elder came to California in the mid-1920s and graduated with a degree in economics from USC in 1929.

Unable to find work during the Depression, Elder played trombone in a Santa Monica band and went back to school to earn a teaching credential.

In 1930, he began teaching business law, bookkeeping and accounting at Burbank High School. Elder also coached the school’s tennis and golf teams. He later earned a master’s degree in education from USC.

During World War II, Elder headed the district’s training program for employees in war-related industries and later served in the Navy from 1943-46. After his discharge, Elder returned to the Burbank school district. In the late 1940s, he became assistant business manager and in the early 1950s, he advanced to business manager, a position he held until his retirement in 1972.

Elder was president of the Rotary Club in Burbank in 1943-44, president of the California Assn. of School Business Officials in 1952-53 and a past board member of the YMCA of Burbank. He was also an avid golfer.

In addition to his son, Elder is survived by his wife of 55 years, Portia Elder; daughter Elaine Moore of Redmond, Wash., and four grandchildren.

Private services have been held. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills, handled the arrangements. Donations can be made in Elder’s name to the YMCA of Burbank.