Mr. Eslie Morris Alford, age 83, of near Fairview, Indiana, entered this life on November 25, 1932, in Madison, Indiana, the son of the late, Abe and Mildred Nannie (Whitham) Alford. He was raised in Switzerland County, Indiana where he was a 1950 graduate of Vevay High School. Eslie was inducted into the United States Army on March 31, 1953 in Indianapolis, Indiana, serving during the Korean War Hq Battery 75th Artillery Battalion. He received the Korean Service Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Eslie was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal on February 9, 1955 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Eslie was united in marriage on June 29, 1957, in Columbus, Indiana to the late, Gladys LaVerna Dennis and to this union arrived four sons, Dennis, DeWayne, Darrin, Daniel and a daughter, Dena to bless their home. Eslie and Gladys shared 53 loving years of marriage together until Gladys passed away on May 16, 2010. Eslie was employed in 1957 as a maintenance mechanic for Indiana Kentucky Electric Corporation in Madison, Indiana, retiring in 1995 after 38 years of service. Eslie enjoyed farming all of his life raising cattle, hogs, corn, soybeans and tobacco. He resided all of his life in the Switzerland County community. Eslie was a member of the Florence Lodge No. 27. He attended the Olive Branch Baptist Church in Bear Branch, Indiana. In his younger years, Eslie enjoyed tractor pulls. Eslie was a devoted husband, father, grandpa, brother and uncle and will be dearly missed by his family and his community. Eslie passed away at 9:50 am, Friday, May 27, 2016, at the Swiss Villa Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Vevay, Indiana.
Eslie will be dearly missed by his sons: Dennis Alford and his wife: Debbie of Fairview, IN, DeWayne Alford and his wife: Cindi of Toledo, OH, Darrin Alford and his wife: Vickie of Fairview, IN and Daniel Alford and his fiancée: Susan of Akron, OH; his daughter: Dena Pope and her husband: Robert of Churubusco, IN; his grandchildren: Tonya, Dustin, Kayla, Travis, Brittany, Brian, Eric, Rob, Valerie, Somer and Mitchell; his great-grandchildren: Alexis, Bailey, Kylee, Abby, Blake, Connor, Easton, Evellynn, Gage and Zane and his 3-nieces and his 2-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Abe Alford, died April 19, 1978 and Mildred Nannie (Whitham) Alford, died January 7, 1998; his wife: Gladys LaVerna (Dennis) Alford, died May 16, 2010 and his sisters: Vera Jeannette Alford and Melba Lovins.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at 11:00 am, by Pastor Patrick Lanman, at the Olive Branch Baptist Church, 2250 Milton-Bear Branch Road, Dillsboro, Indiana 47018.
Interment will follow in the Olive Branch Cemetery, Bear Branch, Indiana.
Friends may call 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Tuesday, May 31, 2016, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Memorial contributions may be made to Olive Branch Baptist Church, Olive Branch Cemetery or to the Switzerland County FFA. Cards are available at the funeral home.