Eldon was born April 4, 1928, in the family home on Straits View Farm, Whidbey Island, to Henry and Genevra ( Kellogg) Weidenbach. He died June 23, 2012 at his home in Ellensburg.

Eldon graduated from Oak Harbor High in 1948. He loved horses and served as drill master for the Island County Posse. In 1960 he met and married the girl of his dreams, Chloe Plass. They lived in Bow and Darrington before moving to the Kittitas Valley in 1972, where Eldon found his true calling as a rancher and roper.

Eldon took an active role in his community with a special interest in helping young people. He was a 4-H leader and Beef Superintendent during the Ellensburg Fair. Eldon was a member of the Kittitas County Roping Club and many will remember learning and honing their roping skills in the big barn on the hill at the Standing W Ranch. He was a member of the Kittitas County Cattlemen’s Association and volunteered at the Ellensburg Rodeo for many years. He had his turn as Master of the Grange, and served as a Kittitas Reclamation District director.

Eldon is survived by his wife of 52 years, as well as his sons Wade (Marcia) of Springdale and Chris (Joetta) of Ellensburg, daughters Gwen (LD) Green of Othello and Barb (Greg) Sheldon of Tacoma, 12 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter, brothers Ray (Cathy) of Gold Hill, Ore., Charles of Ellensburg, Peter (Jan) of Fulton, Calif., and sister Avis (George) Rector of Oak Harbor, and many nieces, nephews and cousins who all loved his easy laugh and wonderful sense of humor A memorial in celebration of Eldon’s life was held Saturday, July 28 at the Ellensburg Rodeo Grounds. Eldon will be laid to rest at Maple Leaf Cemetery on Whidbey Island.