William T. Elrod Jr.

William Tolbert “Bill” Elrod, Jr., age 72, passed away on June 1, 2025, in Buffalo, New York. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brilliant mind, Bill lived a life marked by curiosity, ingenuity, and unwavering faith.

Born in 1953, in Nashville, Tennessee, Bill was raised in a family deeply rooted in Christian theology. His parents, William Tolbert Elrod, Sr., and Mabel (Walker) Elrod, along with his grandparents—his grandfather having served as a faculty member at the Nashville Bible School—instilled in him a strong spiritual foundation that remained central to his life. Guided by faith from an early age, Bill maintained a steadfast commitment to God throughout his journey.

After graduating from Sweet Home High School in Buffalo, Bill pursued higher education, earning degrees and advanced degrees in Physics and Materials Science from David Lipscomb College (now Lipscomb University) and Rochester Institute of Technology. These academic achievements laid the groundwork for a remarkable career that bridged private industry and government service.

He began his professional journey at Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY, working in Failure Analysis—a field perfectly suited to his analytical mind and meticulous nature. His expertise also led him to roles with the U.S. Navy and later, Loral Aerospace. At Loral, Bill played a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of communication satellites and contributed to the development of equipment used in the Space Program. His work helped propel projects and initiatives that reached beyond Earth’s atmosphere—an achievement that brought him great pride.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Bill was known for his boundless curiosity and hands-on approach to life. He absorbed information and had remarkable recall. He was a collector and tinkerer who could repair a carburetor as easily as he could refurbish an antique jukebox. He held an enduring love for motorcycles—especially British bikes—and had a fascination with anything powered by an engine: trains, jets, ships, sports cars. His interests spanned antique pistols, rockets, military history, photography, movies, books, travel—and always a good pizza.

Bill’s joy for learning was matched only by his joy in sharing what he learned. Those who knew him will remember how he could speak enthusiastically about nearly any subject under the sun. And he usually did. He was truly gifted in his ability to engage people in myriad topics and leave you feeling appreciated. He was innately inquisitive and incredibly brilliant, —a happy person who found delight in discovery.

Above all else, Bill cherished his family and was proud of his heritage, as well as his offspring. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Diane (Nieznanski) Elrod; their children Anne Dafchik (Patrick Dafchik), David Elrod, and Weston Elrod, and grandchildren Cara Elrod, Violet Elrod, and Emmet Dafchik. He also leaves behind two sisters: JoAnne Westerfield and Lucy Tyson, as well as nieces and nephews.

Bill’s family extends heartfelt gratitude to friends near and far who offered support during his year-long battle with cancer. Their kindness sustained them through difficult days.

Calling hours will be held on June 14, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Parkside Lutheran Church at 2 Wallace Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214. A Christian Memorial Service will follow immediately afterwards in the church sanctuary from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. For those unable to join us in person, a live video broadcast of the Memorial Service will be available at https://m.youtube.com/@ParksideLutheran ; click on the Live link when the service begins.

In honor of Bill’s memory, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society to support continued research: https://donate.cancer.org

And as Bill would have wanted: take care of one another—and enjoy life—because it is too short.

May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him.