Eli was named after his grandfather. His middle name Enlo after Enlo Wisor,* a neighbor and friend of his sister Ruby's who was about her same age (mid teens). Eli's parents just liked the name.41
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Richard Lee Gleason a nephew of Eli, recalls his uncle telling him that as a young boy he was homeless, choosing for some reason to not live at home with his mother and his step-father Marlie Ellinger. Eli said there were evenings when he would sneak into the courthouse in Curwensville and fall asleep in the judges chair.3
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His brother John, referring to Eli’s tough and undisciplined upbringing, said that “Eli was one rough character. Eleven years old and packing a thirty-eight revolver."157
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Eli as a young boy was a pupil at the Glen Mills School House of Refuge for Boys† located in Thornbury Township, Delaware, PA. A residential facility for juvenile delinquents, this is the same school where his brother Wilbur had also been a student in April of 1930. [Uncle Eli would later tell me how he had always wished he could go back to Glen Mills and talk with the students that were now living there. I’m sure he felt he could say something by using his own experiences in influencing them to good causes, and I’m sure he would have been an effective mentor had he taken the opportunity.]

Later as a teen-ager in the mid 1930’s Eli joined the Civilian Conservation Corp‡ and worked in Arizona.19
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U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records show Eli E. Lines

Birth year: 1922
Nativity State: Pennsylvania
State of Residence: Ohio
County or City: Summit
Enlistment Date: 19 Jan 1943
Enlistment State: Ohio
Enlistment City: Akron
Grade: Private

Terms of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law.

Education: Grammar school
Civil Occupation: Skilled welders and flame cutters
Marital Status: Married
Height: 69
Weight: 14322
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Like his brother Wilbur, Eli served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a combat soldier in Europe. Two days before his 22nd birthday Eli was among the second wave of infantry in the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 during the allied invasion of Europe. The invasion began at about 6:00 a.m. and he arrived there early in the afternoon some seven to eight hours after the start. Recalling those days he said, "It was rougher than hell. The biggest problem was pushing bodies out of your way to get in." His outfit making the landing was with the 83rd Infantry Division. He said that for three continuous days he was never so scared in his life.

He was in the 1st, 3rd & 7th Army. His "regular" army was 3rd and he was with the 970th Special Forces, Engineer Maintenance Company. His work centered around retreading tanks and repairing them. They replaced motors and turrets and put blades on them so they could cut through hedgerows. They did whatever was needed to keep the tanks in action.

After the end of the war [with his brother Wilbur?] he visited the Nazi concentration camp KZ Innsbruck-Reichenau near Innsbruck, Austria. While there they witnessed the digging of mass graves and the burial of thousands of Jewish dead. Years later Eli served during the Korean conflict in the Naval Reserve.

In 1994 Eli received a medallion from France commemorating the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.49,138
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In March 1944 Sgt. Eli Lines was stationed in Camp Gruber, Oklahoma.24
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Following the end of the war Eli began working at the R.C.A. Rubber Company in Akron, OH where he stayed and eventually retired. Over the years he worked his way up from an entry-level job to becoming Vice President of Purchasing.

For years following his retirement he continued working part-time for the company. During his many years at R.C.A. he got several of his family members jobs there including his brother's Wilbur, Richard and "Pete" (John). Eli also secured employment at R.C.A. for his step-father Marlie Ellinger as well as many friends and grandsons.158,35
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A long-time resident of Akron, OH where he lived prior to and following World War Two and until his death.15

His wife Mary usually referred to him as “Red” due to the color of his hair as a young man. Unlike most of his siblings he and his sister Lillian were long-time Republicans.7
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Obituary

Eli E. Lines, 86, of Akron, passed away April 21, 2009.

He was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Eli was born June 8, 1922 in Curwensville, Pennsylvania to the late Harry and Nora Lines. He was a decorated World War II Army veteran, having landed at Normandy on D-Day. Eli retired from RCA Rubber after over 45 years of service. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. In his free time, he enjoyed camping, fishing, and his pets, Molly and Mickey.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by thirteen brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary; daughters, Judy (Jim) Yost and Laura (Steve) McVicker; grandchildren, Jill (Robert) Stalnaker, Kurt Maschmeier (friend Anita Gaidek), Brigit McVicker, and Jodie Maschmeier; great-grandchildren, Matthew Mellinger and Michael Stalnaker. The family would like to thank Aseracare Hospice, Dr. Mark Smith, and special friends, Danni Horton and Lisa Merrett for all the care given to Eli.

Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., with a Masonic Service at 7:30 p.m., at Newcomer Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Rd., where funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m., Rev. Don Davies officiating. Interment at Hillside Memorial Park, with military honors provided by Mogadore VFW 8487. 155

NOTE: The grandchild “Jodie” referred to in Eli’s obituary was the wife of Eli’s grandson Kurt.35
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I talked to my Uncle Eli & Mary in late 2006. Aunt Mary was doing well, but Eli was confined to a wheel chair to get around and I guess he was having a pretty rough time of it.

Uncle Eli got on the phone as he always did when I called, but for the first time he had such a difficult time talking that he quit in frustration. His voice was so much weaker and he could barely speak. It was pretty upsetting to me to realize just how much he had deteriorated since I had spoken to him probably eight or ten months earlier.

I’m grateful that in the summer of 2007 I was able to twice visit with him and for one final time enjoy his company, his good naturedness and his spirit. A better man I’ve never known.3
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Eli’s first cousin Raymond Edward Lines, Jr. (1916-1995) admired and thought a lot of Eli because of his progress and success in life despite his difficult years growing up. Ray “thought there was nobody like Eli.” 35
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The following is a message from Eli’s nephew Richard Lee Gleason, following the death of his uncle:

May 11, 2009

Dear Family,

I could never do justice in a few paragraphs to describe Uncle Eli’s character and integrity, nor the influence that he has had in my life, but to this end I will try.

He was a giant among men and had a special gift of blessing the lives of all who knew him with his humor, his smile and laughter, his good-naturedness and his genuine love and devotion to God, country, family and friends.

I am proud that he was my uncle and am so thankful for the love he and Aunt Mary have given me over the years of my life. Being the son of his younger brother who died at an early age, I was truly blessed by the special relationship that we shared. My life is so much the better because of this relationship and I regret that my children never got to know him or his family.

Despite the trials, difficulties and struggles he experienced as a young boy Eli, as an adult, did all he could do and his accomplishments were many in the days he was given.

As a very young man he was part of what has been appropriately described as “the greatest generation.” He was among the real heros of our time. While he talked to me at some length about his combat experiences during World War Two, Uncle Eli would never let me tape record his memories of those days in Europe (although I did write some of those stories down). During one of those discussions he told me that the only thing I really needed to know is that “I was your uncle and I always loved you.” What more could I ask for?

Like his brothers, sisters and other family members who have gone before him I loved him and will miss him terribly. But I will remember Uncle Eli especially for the exceptional example he was to all who knew him and for the legacy he and his beautiful wife have left to all their family.

In time the sorrow and pain that we feel in our loss will subside. But our choice memories and our grateful hearts, for having known him for the truly good and decent man that he was, will continue to live on. Our lives will forever be blessed in remembering all the good that he accomplished and shared throughout his life.

I am so grateful to know that we can find peace and comfort in the knowledge of the gift of the coming resurrection and in our faith that we will see and embrace him once again. A sense of loss is ours to bear but his is a wondrous gain indeed.

My thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful family, especially my aunt Mary, who I adore, and my cousins, Judy and Laura. I am sorry that it has taken me a while to write you, but please know that you are not alone and that these weeks since his death have been especially difficult for me in grieving his passing.

With love and affection,

Rich
~
Richard Gleason,
Yakima, Washington159
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In a telephone conversation I had with my cousin Judy in early June of 2009, just a month or so following her dad’s death, she said of her father, "He was my hero."7
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Shirley Lines tells the story of fulfilling a school assignement by spending a day with uncle Eli’s secretary at his office.160


*Enlo was found in the 1920 census for Penn Township, Clearfield County PA as a 20 year old son of Miles and Elvira Wisor, their oldest child. They lived on Curwensville Road. Also listed are ten other siblings of Enlo’s. Their names appear on the census sheet just preceeding and at the top of the same one which includes Eli’s parents and siblings, Ruby (12), Maxine (7), Lillian (4) and Wilbur (2). Seven households separate the two families. Two and a half years following the January 1920 census Eli was born.161,72

†David Barstow of the St. Petersburg Times said that Glen Mills was "the country's most radical and, some say, its most effective answer yet to juvenile crime."162

‡The Civilian Conservation Corps was a work relief program under the Roosevelt Administration for unemployed young men from all walks of life for environmental and public service programs.163

Eli and Mary met prior to the World War Two when he was an employee at an A&P food store on Arlington Street in Akron, Ohio. 35