Eldon Reid Munton was born December 30, 1927 in Bond County, Illinois and departed this life at The Baptist Home, Ozark on July 13, 2012, at the age of 84. He was the seventh of eight children of Joseph and Sarah Ann (Taylor) Munton. His great-grandparents, with their young family, had arrived from Norfolk, England and settled in Bond County in the mid-1800’s. Eldon married Delora Zeldean Miller at First Baptist Church, Millersville, Missouri on June 9, 1957. Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his wife, Zeldean and four sons: David (and Jeanne), Greenfield, Missouri, Douglas (and Vickie), O’Fallon, Illinois, Donald (and Denise), Houston, Texas and Daniel (and Tracy), Abilene, Texas; fourteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, John of Bloomsdale, Missouri; sister-in-laws; and nieces and nephews. As a boy, Eldon professed Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized into the Baptist Church, Keyesport, Illinois. He was ordained into the gospel ministry in 1956 and served churches at Fayette, Buckner, Benton, Tuscola, Macon and Effingham, Illinois. He also worked for 45 years as a boilermaker, helping build and repair power plants and refineries in many locations, mainly in Illinois. In 1991, after retirement, he and Zeldean moved to Springfield, Missouri, where they were members of Macedonia, then South Haven Baptist Churches, where he actively served in various capacities. In 2009, they became independent living residents on the campus of The Baptist Home at Ozark. Eldon had the dubious honor of being drafted into the US military two times, the first time at age 18. When World War II was over, he was discharged just two days under one year’s service. Consequently, when the Korean conflict escalated, he was again drafted in 1951, and spent 18 months in Korea. After retirement, he and Zeldean went on numerous volunteer mission trips, helping to build, remodel and encourage churches in several states including Alaska, Vermont, Maine, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Missouri. They also worked in ministries connected with the Olympics---1996 in Atlanta and 2000 in Australia. They helped with Greene County Baptist Girls’ Camp at Baptist Hill Assembly several years. Eldon’s favorite hobby was jigsaw puzzles and the family sunroom usually had a puzzle in progress, many of them glued and framed to grace either their home or one of their family members homes. He played and loved sports. He coached his sons’ Little League teams several years and was an ardent St. Louis Cardinals fan. He made many friends at his early morning coffee shop hangouts, both in Springfield and at Ozark McDonald’s. It can be said of Eldon Munton that he loved God and loved his family and he leaves special memories in the lives of his wife, sons and daughter-in-laws, grandchildren, extended family and friends. Visitation will be in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole, Springfield, MO on Sunday, July 15, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM and the celebration of life will be in the funeral home on Monday, July 16, 2012, at 12:30 PM with burial in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Baptist Home’s Ozark Campus, 1525 W. Garton Rd., Ozark, MO 65721 or Grand Oak Baptist Mission, 2854 W. Grand, Springfield, MO 65802. The family wishes to thank all the many kind nurses and doctors at Cox South and Select Specialty Hospitals and The Baptist Home who gave their time to care for Eldon and his family during the eight weeks of his hospitalization. Your kindnesses will always be remembered. Online condolences may be left at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com