Burleson – Elmer Louis Youngblood Jr., 92, passed away Friday, April 3, 2015. Graveside Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Greenacres Memorial Park, Cleburne. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 6, 2015 at Mayfield Kiser Funeral Home. Elmer Louis Youngblood, Jr.,  known as Jr. to his  family, Louis to his friends and co workers, Daddy and Papaw to his children and grandchildren. The youngest of seven children born January 26, 1923 to Elmer Louis Youngblood and Mollie Laurence Youngblood, Louis grew up in the Texarkana area, on the Arkansas side! Elmer Sr.came to America with his family from Hamburg,Germany at the age of three. The family, originally Jungblut, opened a bar but in Little Rock. Arkansas. Railroad became the ‘family business’. All three of Louis’s brothers, brother in law, cousins, nephews and oldest son David continued the tradition.  Mollie’s family left Indiana and settled in Arkansas after missing their opportunity for land in the Oklahoma land rush. After losing the first born daughter in a tragic accident, Mollie raised a family of six children during the depression and Louis told stories of selling newspapers to buy food when he wasn’t in school. After graduating from Arkansas High School, at the age of 18 he entered the Army Air Forces during World War II. While stationed in England Staff Sgt. Louis Youngblood flew 25 missions aboard a B17 bomber where he served as bombardier.  He told us his first bombing target was Hamburg, Germany where his fathers family had lived! His commanding officer wrote the movie 12 o’clock High, which Louis recalled was the most accurate portrayal of his experience in the war. Louis didn’t talk about the war until his later years. He was deeply affected by his military service. Louis grew up going to the Baptist church but he recalled his salvation experience was flying over France. His prayer was, ‘Lord if you’ll save me and keep me alive I’ll serve you the rest of my life’! And he kept that promise to the Lord. When Louis returned home after his military service he attended Spartan school of Aeronautics in Tulsa Oklahoma and met 17 year old Wilda Gunnells. She was working at the soda fountain near her high school and met 23 year old Louis when he came in for lunch. They had a long distance courtship for the next 4 years because Louis said he wouldn’t marry her until she was 21! He finished school at Spartan to become an airplane mechanic and moved to Texas to work for Consolidated, later known as General Dynamics, now as Lockheed.  He married 21 year old Wilda in 1951 and settled in Fort Worth to raise their family of three boys, David, Mike and Chuck. On a warm day in 1955 while mother was outside hanging clothes on the line and baby Mike asleep, a 3 year old David answered a knock at the door. Local pastor, Luther Mann was calling to invite the family to church and little David let him in the house and led him to the backyard! That day was the beginning of a long, close friendship with Luther and Betty Mann. Louis and Wilda’s young family became members and faithful servants of Village Creek Baptist Church where Louis was ordained as deacon on April 8, 1956. Luther and Betty’s contagious love of missions inspired the members of their congregation to give and serve around the world. Louis remained mission minded after moving the family to Burleson in 1966.  The family joined a mission church known today as Crestmont Baptist Church faithfully serving as a deacon and Sunday School teacher until the age of 91 when his health no longer permitted him to attend services regularly. Louis had a family history of macular degeneration many of them going blind. He promised the Lord he would teach as long as he had sight and only stopped last year due to his health and irregular attendance. However, his giving of tithes and offerings continued until his death. Preceded in death by his beloved wife Wilda, Louis Youngblood entered the presence of his Lord Good Friday April 3, 2015.  Survivors: He is survived by his children David and wife Shelia, sons Mike and Chuck, 8 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and countless children in the faith.