Born to Wbileado & Maria de Jesus Gonzalez on March 2, 1930 in San Gabriel, California. Elias joined the United States Army in 1948. After basic training he graduated the Basic Airborne Course in Fort Benning, Georgia and was a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He was eventually sent to Germany where he served in the occupational forces of WWII. He settled in Visalia, CA after 9 years in the military where he worked as a barber and sold real estate. He later returned to Kingsburg and worked as a real estate broker and bartender at his brother Ray's restaurant, The Valley Inn. He became the Manager at the Kingsburg Cemetery where he retired after 20 years.