STAUNTON — Bruce Elderwas a born storyteller and could entertain others for hours, according to Staunton Councilwoman Carolyn Dull.
The two ran for council together in 2006 and became a team.
On Tuesday, Dull and others were stunned and shocked to learn of the news of his death. "I am heartbroken at the loss of a great friend way too soon," she said.
She said Elder was always imparting wisdom.
"He was so intelligent and had a strong desire to be a part of making Staunton the city he knew it could be," Dull said."He was a strong advocate for the Staunton Crossing project, understanding that the financial future of the city would rest on that successful development. Always an advocate for the needs of our citizens, Bruce worked tirelessly until payday lending was eliminated in Virginia. He helped Staunton in so many ways, and he will be sorely missed."
The former city councilman died Tuesday at the age of 63, according to several city sources. An announcement was made during a Staunton Rotary Club Zoom meeting Tuesday morning that Elder had passed.
He was the owner of Elder Antique Auto in Staunton and he was elected to his first term on Staunton City Council in 2006. As a councilman, Elder hadworked on a number of downtown economic development projects in concert with the Staunton Downtown Development Association. He left council in 2014.
In 2014, he pulled out of the race for the 6th Congressional District for Bob Goodlatte's seat because he wasfighting cancer. He was diagnosed in 2013and had surgery to remove a tumor from his face in 2014.
He also ran for the20th District in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2005.
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"Staunton has been my family's home, its park, its school, and its library for 16 years," Elder said in 2006 when he was running for city council."Staunton has also provided the historic home to my antique automobile business. My wife Catherine has worked at Kings Daughters, Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, Staunton City Schools and AMC. My daughter Lana is at Mary Baldwin. Andy plays with The Stonewall Brigade Band. There is only one Staunton, Virginia. and she means a lot to me."
He also served the boards of the R.R. Smith Center for History and Art and the Virginia First Cities coalition.Elder also servedas council liaison to the Staunton Planning Commission from 2009 to 2014and was on the Staunton Nominations Committee.
He joined the Staunton Economic Development Authority in 2015.
"Bruce was passionate about the possibility of Staunton Crossing’s development keeping area college graduates in our city, instead of leaving for other opportunities in larger cities," said Billy Vaughn, director of Staunton Community and Economic Development Departments. "He was also avid about Staunton’s quality of life, being affordable with clean air and clean water."
Elder'sknown as the 48-year owner of an antique automobile dealership in Staunton — Elder Antique and Classic Automobiles has done business in 24 countries and42 states in the U.S. — and a small-business owner in the city's historic downtown since 1989.
“Staunton was a very prosperous town and it embraced car culture early on,”Elder told us once for a news article. “The car culture is a big part of the economy of the area and it’s something that people who don’t share that enthusiasm may not be aware of.”
Staunton Mayor Andrea Oakes said Elderhad a gentle and kind soul.
"From the first day he walked into Staunton, our city glowed from his contagious smile," she said."Bruce was a well-respected Staunton City Council member and EDA member. He was truly dedicated in his pursuit to make Staunton the best place to live for all.
"Bruce never met a stranger and we will always remember the lessons he taught us through his stories," she continued."Bruce was a loving family man and lit up when he talked about his wife and children. All of us in the City of Staunton are thinking and praying for his family. Today, that glow in Staunton has become dim. Godspeed, past Councilman Bruce Elder."
Dave Metz, who served on city council with Elder for eight years, then later on the EDA, said his dedication to Staunton was profound.
"I had some wet eyes today, such a loss of a kind person," Metz said. "Growing up in New Hampshire,he settled in Staunton and got involved in more than just city council.His mark will be felt for many years as a leader in pushing the uniqueness of Staunton."
Metz said Elder had the ability to strike up a conversation with a stranger and had such a caring heart.
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"He would often give a few dollars to those less fortunate and he wasn’t trying to make a point — it was just he wanted to help someone less fortunate at that moment," he said."That was his attitude about Staunton."
Metz said Elder was always asking how he and other could invest today for tomorrow and make it better.
"Our community has lost a special leader who was never satisfied with plodding along.He pushed all of us to make Staunton a better place," Metz said. "I will miss him as a friend and colleague."
Former City Manager StephenOwen had known Elder for nearly 15 years. Owen started at the city in 2007, right after Elder was elected to council in 2006. Owen retired from the city in 2019.
"He was totally unique if you knew him, he was thoughtful andextremely kind," Owen said. "He was absolutely hilarious. I don't know of anybody who carried more jokes in their head, and could tell them to make you just, you know, crying laughing."
Owen, and many others, said Elder had an amazing impact on the city.
"He was an American original, he was so unique and so wonderful. He made everybody feel like they were his best friend," Owen said. "He will be missed by everyone who knew him. He never met a stranger and he was just a lovely person."
Staunton Councilman Terry Holmes took to Facebook to send his regrets.
"We all lost a great Stauntonian. I am not sure of what, but I already miss him," Holmes posted."He was a mentor to me on council and a councilman himself. I have known Bruce Elder the whole 28 years I have been in business at the Mill. I will miss his intellect and his stories and most of all his friendship. Bruce would give you the shirt off his back, it might not fit, but he would give it to you anyway. Always the optimist with a killer sense of humor, he really cared about the people he knew, and no one was a stranger to him. He never gave up and my heart goes out to his family who will miss him the most."
Laura Peters is the trending topics reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses?Or a good feature? You can reach reporter Laura Peters (she/her) atlpeters@newsleader.com.Follow her@peterslaura. Subscribe to The News Leader at newsleader.com.
