Neufeld, Eldon Robert (1955-1978)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1978 Aug 18 p. 35

Birth date: 1955 Mar 03

text of obituary:

ELDON ROBERT NEUFELD

Eldon Robert Neufeld was born in Vancouver, B.C., on March 3, 1955, the second of two children. He died in early July, 1978, in a private plane crash. He became a Christian at the age of eight, but began to lose interest in Christianity early in his high school years. However, in 1972 he attended Explo '72 in Dallas, Texas, where he rededicated his life to the Lord. He was baptized that same year and received into membership at the Killarney Park MB Church in Vancouver.

After high school he attended Columbia Bible Institute for two years, where he experienced a time of real spiritual growth and maturing. He graduated from CBI in 1975, and the following year realized a life-long dream by spending five months in Australia and New Zealand. Upon his return he worked for a year before attending Trinity Western College in Langely, B.C., where, in fall of 1977, he enrolled in the aviation program in preparation for service with Missionary Aviation Fellowship. He completed his first year last spring, obtained his private pilot's license and was working toward his commercial license.

On June 3D, Eldon and a fellow student pilot, David Mundy, left on a ten-day cross-country flight. On the return trip, less than an hour from home, the plane crashed and the Lord took both students home. Eldon leaves to mourn his parents, Henry and Helen Neufeld; a sister, Frances (Mrs. Tim) McLay; two nieces, Heather and Shannon, and many other relatives and friends.