Roscoe Howard Elliott, 97, of Elizabethton, passed away Monday, November 12, 2018, in the Community Living Center of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center.
He was born July 16, 1921 in Carter County to the late Andy J. and Onnie Bell Brookshire Elliott and was one of five children. At the age of 18, like so many others in the area, he began employment at the Bemberg Corporation. At the age of 21, this individual was drafted into the United States Army. He was inducted and processed at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Basic training was completed at Miami Beach, Fla., and Columbus, Ohio. Then he was sent to Fort Worth, Texas for extensive Weapons Training. Immediately thereafter he boarded ship and 12 days later landed in Le Havre, France. He was then trucked to the front lines and assigned to the 3rd Armored Division. This unit was responsible for protecting the tanks as they traversed the landscape while engaging in battle daily.
Mr. Elliott was blessed in that he never sustained any major physical injuries. When the war ended he was assigned to the military police to maintain order. During his time of military service, he was awarded many American and European Theatre Medals and a Bronze Star. Upon discharge from the Army, he returned home to Carter County. In 1946, he obtained employment as a construction worker with TVA. He was first assigned to the Watauga Dam Project. In 1948, he went to Aiken, S.C., and worked on an Atomic Energy Plant for approximately two years. Once back home he went to work for Trammel Construction Company. One of the largest projects he was assigned at the time was the redevelopment of an old golf course in Bristol into a residential housing community. In 1959, he was hired by Raytheon Corporation in Bristol. He worked there for 25 years as a machinist in the heat treat department. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church and the Adult Men’s One Sunday School Class. His hobbies were gardening and carpentry.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Bert Elliott, who passed away on June 24, 2016, and three sisters, Ruth Maines, Gertie Nave and Ivan Elliott.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Jean and Leonard Peters, Elizabethton; a grandson and wife, Steve and Terri Peters, Chicago, Ill.; three grandchildren, Tanner Peters of Chicago, Trent and Tatum Peters, both of Atlanta; one sister, Lois Greer, Elizabethton; three sisters-in-law, Nell Cates, Dorothy Peters and Alean Cooper and husband Don; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services for Roscoe Howard Elliott will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 17, in the Mausoleum of Peace at Happy Valley Memorial Park with the Rev. Ron Owens and the Rev. Travis Tyler officiating. Music will be provided by Mr. David Arney. Interment will follow the service. Active pallbearers will be Steve Peters, Trent Peters, Tatum Peters, Tanner Peters, Keith Davenport, Doug Bailey, Bob Elliott and Carl Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Greg Cates, Jeff Cates, Harold Smith, David Ferguson, Mitchell “Butch” Peters and his church family. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of Sycamore Springs Assisted Living, especially Luke, Pam and Wendy. Military Honors will be provided by the Carter County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in memory of Mr. Elliott to the charity of their choice or to your home church. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 12:20 p.m. Saturday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Elliott family.