Elvet Wendell Foulkes, 93 of Columbus Grove, died on the morning of March 15, 2025 at his home. He was born April 11, 1931 in Vaughnsville, Ohio to the late Thomas and Quartense (Thomas) Foulkes. On April 19, 1953 he married his childhood sweetheart, Reita Beemer, who preceded him in death on May 1, 2015.

Elvet is survived by two daughters, Brenda (J. Daniel) Groman of Columbus Grove and Julie (Mark) Yoder of Bluffton; his six grandchildren, Krysti (Phil) Schey, Kurt (Amy) Groman, Joel (Rachel) Groman, Paul (fiancé Naomi Kline) Yoder, David (Anna) Yoder, Rachel (Nathan) West; seven great-grandsons and seven great-granddaughters. He is also survived by one sister, Della Salter of Bluffton; a sister-in-law, Mary Ann (Gene) Amstutz of Pandora and several nieces and nephews. 

He was quite proud of his Welsh heritage and leaves behind several cherished cousins in Canada and Wales.

Elvet was preceded in death by his daughter Debbie on September 24, 1980; his sister Doris (Donald) Rockhill and sister-in-law Grace Marshall, as well as brothers-in-laws Stanley Salter and Don Marshall.

Elvet was the 1949 valedictorian of Beaverdam High School. After being stationed with the Army in Japan after the Korean War, he spent his life operating the family farm. Elvet was an excellent basketball player in high school and played for the Army.

Elvet loved Jesus. It was exemplified in his life-long membership of the Rockport Community Bible Church, where he actively participated in its ministry, his active involvement in Gideon's International, his frequent visits to the Putnam County jail to share with those incarcerated there, his involvement on the board of Bluffton-Pandora Youth of Christ, and his consistent spiritual conversations with all he met.

He was a member of the Allen County Farm Bureau, the board of the Bluffton Hospital (involved in the Bluffton/Findlay merger and expansion), and was on the board of Midwest Electric. Elvet was also a member of the Lincoln Highway Association and a charter member of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America's Western Buckeye Region. 

Elvet's services will begin at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Rockport Community Bible Church with Pastor Sharyn Cline and Jeremy Basinger officiating. Burial will be in Rockport Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, March 21, 2025 at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton. 

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial contributions may be made to Pandora-Bluffton Youth for Christ or Gideons International.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com/