A Tribute to Eldon Stanton (Command Sergeant Major, Retired)

Eldon Stanton, a man of iron will, old-fashioned values, and a heart far larger than his "grumpy" exterior let on, passed away March 25, 2026. A soldier’s soldier, a tireless worker, and a true-blooded American, Eldon stood tall for his country until the very end. Most of you here knew Eldon as “Top”, “CSM”, or “Sergeant Major”. Some of you knew him as the guy in the neighborhood who had the sharpest lawn and the most reinforced shed in the county. But to us, he was just Dad—the man who taught us that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing with about fifty more nails than the blueprint called for. Dad was a man of high standards and even higher volume.

A Life of Service and Honor.

Eldon dedicated his life to the United States Army, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major. His career took him from the drill pads of Fort Jackson, SC, where he shaped the next generation of soldiers, to overseas tours in Frankfurt and Garlstedt, Germany, before eventually retiring out of Fort Stewart, GA. A highly decorated combat veteran, Eldon traveled from coast to coast, serving wherever the nation called. He earned every stripe on his sleeve and every ounce of respect he commanded.

His devotion to the country was most visible in his own front yard. If the American flag flying high was even slightly weathered or torn, he replaced it immediately; he never once let those colors touch the ground. He treated the American flag with more reverence than most people treat their own prized possessions. He never let it touch the ground in life, and it’s only fitting that he now rests in the soil he spent a lifetime defending. Though the military "programmed" him for a life of discipline and rank, he fought on foreign soil so that everyone at home could live in the justice and freedom he held dear. He walked through life like he still had those stripes on his sleeve. He spent years at Fort Jackson and Fort Stewart, and he traveled from one coast of this country to the other. He didn't just serve in the U.S. Army; he was the Army. They programmed him to be a leader of men, a protector of the flag, and a guardian of discipline. And honestly? They never quite figured out how to "un-program" him back into a civilian. He’d argue with the news like it could hear him, and if he felt disrespected, you were going to hear about it. He was a "mean ol’ bugger" when he wanted to be, but that was just the armor he wore to protect a heart that was made of pure gold. Those who knew him best saw the man behind the gruffness: a person who would help anyone in need before he ever thought of himself.

The Heart of a Handyman In his civilian life, Eldon was a professional handyman who believed that if one nail worked, ten more would work better. When he wasn't over-engineering a project, he was tinkering in his shop or meticulously landscaping his yard.

A Devoted Father and Grandfather Above all his ranks and medals, Eldon loved his children and would have done anything for them. He lived for the moments when his grandkids would run through the house, and he took immense joy in watching them "raid" his kitchen and eat all of his cookies. His gruffness always melted away for the people he loved most. Our favorite version of Eldon wasn't the one in the dress blues or the one with the hammer in his hand. It was the version of him that couldn't wait for the grandkids to get to the house. The man who pretended to be tough until those kids started running around, raiding his kitchen, and eating every single one of his cookies. For them, the Sergeant Major was just a softie who happened to have a loud voice. Behind that grumpy exterior was a man who lived for his kids. He was the first person to show up if you were in trouble and the last person to think about himself. He was a professional tinkerer, a landscape artist who treated his grass like a parade ground.

He believed in old-fashioned values: respect, courage, and standing your ground. He fought on foreign soil so we could have the freedom to be exactly who we are.

Final Formation Eldon has completed his final tour. He fought for the freedom to walk this ground, and he will now rest eternally in the soil he defended. He will be interred at the Black Hills National Cemetery, where he will never be forgotten. Dad, you’ve finished the project. The nails are all in—probably way too many of them—and the yard looks perfect. The flag is flying high, and your watch is over. We love you. Rest easy, Sergeant Major. We’ve got it from here. At Ease.

Eldon is survived by his wife, R-Lou; children, Stacey; Sonya; Sheldon (deceased); Shane; grandchildren he adopted, Mercedes; Yvette; Angelo; Esperanza; grandchildren, Serenity; Khole; Valencia; Eliso; Levi; Vincent; Ivan; Luna; Ayla; Chalino; Joseph; Dominick;  siblings, Diane; Brenda; Kara; Fern and Loren.

Visitation will be held 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs, SD.

Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 3, 2026, at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs, SD.

Committal service will be held 2:30 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2026, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

Luncheon will be held 4:30p.m. at the AmericanLegion in Hot Springs.

A memorial has been established in Eldon’s name.