Todd Evan Elkins

Todd Evan Elkins, 43, of Albany and formerly of Elgin, died March 3 in an automobile accident.

A celebration of life was held March 10 at Albany First Assembly of God with a reception following. Fisher Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Todd was born May 15, 1965, the second son of Lloyd and Myrtle Elkins (now known as Myrtle Moodenbaugh) in Prineville. Myrtle's second husband, Glenn Moodenbaugh, raised Todd as his own.

After graduating from Elgin High School in 1983, he moved to Springfield, Mo., attending Evangel University and Southwest Missouri State University. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. For the past 16 years, Todd was employed at Hewlett-Packard in Corvallis.

On Jan. 10, 1986, Todd married Karen Ables, after a friendship that began in the eighth grade. They married in Springfield, Mo., while both were attending college. The next year, the couple moved to Albany where the family continues to live. Their son, Devan, was born in 1986 while they were in Missouri. Their daughters were all born in Albany: Alyssa, 1990; Elani, 1993; and Aleya, 1996.

For the past 22 years, the family worshiped at the First Assembly of God in Albany. Todd enjoyed teaching Bible classes. He was also a sound tech and a leader in the church's youth group for many years. In the last year of his life, those who knew Todd say he had no greater passion than sitting with friends to read the word of God aloud.

Todd loved people more than anything and had a wide variety of friends. He could build or fix anything, and he often made his talents available to those in need. Young people particularly loved his humor, zest for life and penchant for blowing things up. He loved spending his days on a dirt bike, a street bike or a snowboard.

Survivors include his wife, Karen; son, Devan; daughters, Alyssa, Elani and Aleya; mom and dad, Myrtle and Glenn; brother, Karl; brother, Travis and his wife, Jeana, and their children; an aunt; and extended family. Todd was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Elkins.

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