James David Elliott Sr

James David Elliott, Sr.

March 30, 1933 – February 7, 2026

David finished his earthly race early Saturday morning, February 7th, 2026, at his home in the Cave Springs, Oklahoma community. He died knowing he was loved. David was born on March 30th, 1933, in Puxico, Missouri, the 7th of 11 children to Rev. B. W. and Viola Mae (Harsh) Elliott.

When David was two years old, the family moved to Kennett, Missouri. Under the guidance of his parents, he came to know his Lord and Savior at a young age. David grew up in Kennett in a home filled with love but had very limited resources. All the children old enough to pull a sack missed school in the fall to pick cotton so they could buy school clothes. Despite this situation, school was very important to him, and he excelled in getting an education. After two years in the U.S. Army, he enrolled in Southwestern Bible School in Oklahoma City, where he met his wife, Wanda. They got married in 1957, after which they both attended NSU (Tahlequah, Oklahoma), and David graduated with a bachelor’s in business education. He began his teaching career in Nowata County, Oklahoma, and later he taught in Fort Allen, Ponce, Puerto Rico, and Wichita, Kansas, and retired after 33 years as a classroom teacher. Retirement permitted David and Wanda to make multiple mission trips to Latin America and for David to create many flower beds for Wanda to enjoy.

David had three passions – first and foremost, his family, his church, and from an early age, he loved gardening! Every place they lived, he put in flower beds and mowed and trimmed so everything was beautiful all year round.

David is survived by his wife, Wanda Ruth, of the home; son, David Elliott Jr. (Melissa) of Wichita, Kansas; granddaughters, Abigail Whitney (Corey) of the home, Rachel Sands (Tal) of Chance, Oklahoma; and the joy of his life, great-granddaughter, Alice Ruth Whitney of the home; and numerous nieces and nephews. David is also survived by a host of young people in Latin America who call him “Tio David,” as well as Dairo and Sindy Salazar, to whom he has always been “Papá,” and “Abuelo” to their children.

David was preceded to heaven by his parents, his 10 siblings, and his precious granddaughter, Hannah – with whom he has been reunited.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the people who made it possible to make it so that David could stay in his home. Thank you to the VA home-based care, Cura hospice nurses and aides, and Home Helpers Home Care for everything they did for David during the last year. Not only did they care for him, but they also gave his family the opportunity to be his family: a wife, a son, and a grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that any donations be made to Stilwell Impact Youth Ministry, 1246 N. Collyge, Westville, OK 74965, and/or Bridge Builders International Missions, P.O. Box 2983, Broken Arrow, OK 74013 (Jerry Morris 918-346-4673).

A Celebration of Life honoring James will take place on Saturday, February 14th, at 2:00 p.m. at Impact Church, 102 N 6th Street, Stilwell, Oklahoma.

A private family interment will be held later at Baptist Mission Cemetery, Westville, Oklahoma.