Elmer Duane Westfall passed away peacefully at Seashore Highlands Retirement Community in
Gulfport, MS, early Sunday morning, September 28, 2025. He lived 99 wonderful years and was deeply loved by all of his family, friends and everyone he had the pleasure to meet.
Mr. Westfall was born in Pittsburg, PA, August 25, 1926. His family moved to Dallas, TX, where he attended Highland Park High School. He entered the U. S. Navy July 1944 and became an Aviation Ordinance Petty Officer III. He flew with his crew aboard the U.S. Navy PBY Catalina in the Pacific during WWII. He then attended and graduated from Texas A&M with an engineering degree while being married and raising three babies. Mr. Westfall retired from Ling-Temco-Vought as a Reliability Engineer. He loved everything about aviation, flying and airplanes. He built and flew numerous model airplanes over the years, and was an instrument rated private pilot, owning his own airplanes.
Mr. Westfall was preceded in death by his first wife Alma Lois Westfall (Sloan), parents Elmer H. Westfall and Olga Victoria Westfall (Reuschelle), brother Ronald G. Westfall and sister Sylvia Sara (Westfall).
He is survived by his current wife Mary Frances Westfall (Robinson), sons Gary D. Westfall (Catherine), Santa Rosa, CA, Richard H. Westfall (Mary Ann), Ocean Springs, MS, and daughter Susan Westfall Butterworth (Wayne), Piedmont, AL. He is also survived by grandchildren Andrew H. Westfall (Amber), Ocean Springs, MS, Forrest D. Westfall, San Diego, CA, Katherine Westfall Rocco (Nick), Orlando, FL, and great grandchildren Landon A. Westfall and Jackson H. Westfall, Ocean Springs, MS.
Services for Elmer Duane Westfall are scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home in Tyler, TX. Viewing is from 9:00 - 11:00 am, Chapel Service at 11:00 am and Entombment in Field of Honor Mausoleum, Tyler Memorial Funeral Home, at 12:00 pm (Noon).
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Seashore Highlands Retirement Community, 12170 Highland Way,
Gulfport, MS 39503. We would like to thank the management, staff and nurses for taking such great care of Mr. Westfall for the 17 months he lived at Seashore Highlands Memory Care. Everyone loved him and took such special care with love and kindness.
We would also like to thank Mr. Westfall's wife of 22 years, Mary Frances Westfall and her wonderful family, Donna and John Mayfield, Jan and Dickie Watkins and Charlie Major, for welcoming Mr. Westfall so warmly into their family. He loved you all dearly. Thanks to Notre Dame Hospice for the loving care and support they provided during the final weeks of Mr.
Westfall's life. Special thanks to Jeff O'Keefe and his wonderful staff at Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home for their local Gulfport services.