Eldon Lonborg

Eldon Lonborg

Eldon Lonborg, 85, died on Feb. 19, 2026, from complications from prostate cancer. He passed peacefully at home with his family.

He was born on July 31, 1940, to Carolyn and Lloyd Lonborg in Centralia, and married Cindy (Reed) Lonborg on Sept. 23, 1962.

Eldon was a retired educator and much more. He started life digging in the dirt and cutting trees and never stopped until cancer stole his energy. Although he spent his career wearing business attire, most weekends you would find him wearing a hickory shirt and jean with suspenders while he cut trees for lumber or firewood, fixed fences, cleared roads, or just took a little time for hunting and fishing. He needed his country time to work in the city.

Eldon spent most of his professional career with Olympia School District. He started as a librarian and retired as an assistant superintendent. Eldon was slow to embrace retirement.

After Olympia, he took interim superintendent jobs in Oakville and Elma, taught aspiring school administrators through City College, and served as an expert witness in a lawsuit regarding state funding of public schools.

Despite working through the early part of his retirement, Eldon and Cindy still traveled extensively, mostly for hunting and fishing, but also some cruises and other trips where critters were only admired and photographed.

Eldon is survived by his wife of 63 years, Cindy, sister Shirley, three children (David, Eric, and Katrina), and four grandchildren (Nicholas, Lily, Margaret, and Charles).

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, at Oakville United Methodist Church, followed by the graveside service at the Oakville Pioneer Cemetery at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, in the Smith Room at Funeral Alternatives of Washington, 455 North St. SE, Tumwater.