Elba Lowell Herring, a longtime Cushing resident, passed away at his home on Wednesday morning at the age of 91.

Elba was born on August 30, 1919 in Lincoln County, east of Agra.

He was one of twelve children born to the late Fred Gilson and Clauice Ina Blackwelder Herring.

Elba grew up in Lincoln County and attended school in Agra and two years at Victor school, south of Parkland.

He spent one year at Mountrose, Colorado at the Civil Conservation Corp. {CCC}

Elba married Pearl Rebecca Herring on February 21, 1940 in Moab, Utah. To this union three daughters were born.

He was baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn on February 3, 1940.

He worked in Olathe, Colorado for farmers, moving back to Cushing in 1943. After returning to Cushing, he was ordained a minister.

Elba worked at Deep Rock Refinery for seventeen years. After working at Deep Rock, he was a supervisor of a maintenance crew at Oklahoma State University. In 1963, they moved to California and alternated ministry trips between California and Oklahoma until 1972. He was ordained as a Bishop of the Fresno Church of the Firstborn. In 1972, they made their home in California until 1988, returning to their home in Cushing.

He loved to work, sing, and especially loved preaching and communicating with others.

Elba is survived by his daughters Marie Greenfield of Tryon; Loretta Smith and husband Danny of Cushing; Stella Wittman and husband Ronnie of Stillwater; grandchildren Glenda Kyser and husband Edward; Michael Greenfield; Steven Smith and wife Jozette; John Smith and wife Faith; David Smith; Aaron Wittman and wife Teresa; Derek Wittman; Benita Ervin and husband Roger; great grandchildren Dennis Greenfield; Jesse Greenfield; Cynthia Sanchez; Rebecca Greenfield; Joshua Kyser; Matthew Kyser; Paul Kyser; Amber Wittman; Summer Wittman; Autumn Wittman; Mike Ervin; Logan Ervin; Danyll Smith; Dustnn Smith; Rochelle Smith; Sherissa Smith; Michael Smith; Japeth Smith; Hannah Smith; nine great great grandchildren; brothers Fred Herring Jr. and wife Darlene of Sun Lakes, Arizona; and Kenneth Herring and wife Alma June of Moore; sisters Florence Rhodes of Moore; and Adelle Skirlock and husband Jim of Oklahoma City.

In addition to his parents, Elba was preceded in death by his wife Pearl; son in law Wayne Greenfield; brother William Henry; four sisters, Clara Moore, Thelma Britton, Ida Belle Fuller and Doris Morris; as well as two infant siblings.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 27, 2010 at the Church of the Firstborn in Cushing. Brother Anthony Sloate and Brother Troy Toland will officiate.

Interment will follow at Parkland Cemetery, Parkland, Oklahoma.

Serving as casketbearers will be Aaron Wittman, Steve Smith, Derek Wittman, David Smith, Michael Greenfield, Dennis Greenfield and Jesse Greenfield.

Condolences and online guestbook are available at www.palmermarlerfh.com.