Fullerton Airport Director Roland Elder Dies

Funeral services are pending for Roland Elder, director of Fullerton Municipal Airport, who died Sunday of liver cancer. He was 51.

Elder, who lived in Yorba Linda, earned praise from the community for his efforts to increase safety at the general aviation airstrip and to improve airport relations with the surrounding community, according to a statement from Fullerton City Manager James L. Armstrong’s office.

Elder grew up in Arkansas, where he met his wife, Annabel. After Elder returned home from Vietnam, where he flew 127 missions as a B-52 navigator and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, he and Annabel raised two children, Boyd and Graceann.

Elder helped command a number of military air bases throughout the country before he retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1987.

Pursuing an interest in aviation safety, he became an accident prevention counselor that year for the Federal Aviation Assn.

His expertise in safety and airport management led to his selection as director of the Fullerton airport in 1989.

In 1993, he received a special citation from the national Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn. for “excellence in public service.”

During his spare time, Elder volunteered to help disabled veterans and former prisoners of war.