Elwyn Leonard Meek

Farewell to a special man. Elwyn Leonard Meek, who was born on Flag Day, June 14th, 1930; obtained his first driver’s license on D-Day, and died a proud veteran on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, 2024 at his residence in Pagosa Springs. He was preceded in death by his wife Fanchon Brice Meek, his son Brice Leonard meek, parents Leonard H. Meek and Evelyn Mattie Adams Meek, his sister Mary Frances Webster, her husband Merle, and their son Mark.

Elwyn graduated from Pueblo Centennial High School in 1948. He then joined the Army Air Corps where he underwent extensive aviation training at Randolph Field in Texas and Marsh Field in Washington before being sent to Okinawa for 3 years of occupation duty supporting Pacific and Korean Air Corps operations. He was always proud that his service began in the Army Air Corps but ended in the newly formed 20th U.S. Air Force.

Elwyn had a varied professional career as a business owner, a heavy machinery and boiler inspector, and an underwriter for several large commercial insurance carriers around the U.S. He authored several state boiler codes, and served as Missouri State Fire Marshall. He used to laugh about inspecting a small business, public school system, manufacturing facility and possibly a nuclear reactor on any given day. His knowledge was vast and always informative.

Elwyn returned to his beloved Colorado in 2009 to reside in Pagosa Springs with his oldest daughter, Sandra Renee Meek Vanover, her husband Michael, and son Russell. He is survived by two other daughters, Michelle Tinsley (William) of Liberty, MO, and Lee McIntyre of Denver, CO. Between them, he has 5 other grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Elwyn was an extraordinarily cheerful, good man, a wonderful father, and a delightful friend to all who knew him. He was a tribute to a remarkable generation of heroes and will be profoundly missed by all.

A private family service will be scheduled at a later date. The family appreciates any memorials be made to a favorite charity in his name.