dbryce@journalnet.com

POCATELLO - Edwin Ellett left Pocatello for more than 40 years but never forgot the city's charm.

So in 2006, when he retired from Teledyne in Southern California, Ellett and his wife, Patricia, opted to return to the Gate City.

"I enjoyed (California) while I was there," Ellett said.

Ellett works three days a week at Tough Guy Bowling Lanes as the desk clerk.

The job entails customer service, rentals and keeping the bowling alley's 24 lanes on line. Wednesday was dollar day at Tough Guy and Ellett said his day was unusually quiet.

He likes the chance to meet people through his job.

"I get to meet a lot of people here," he said. "I like to get to know them and look forward to seeing them."

He and his wife Patricia have been married for 33 years. They have two sons, a daughter and three grandchildren.

When he's not on the job, Ellett said he likes to play "hand and foot," a card game he described as a mix of Canasta and Rummy. Ellett also bowls on Mondays with the Men's Industrial League.

"I'm not really that good at it, but I like it," he said.

Ellett plans to keep working at Tough Guy, which is owned by his nephew, Pat Larus, and settle back into his hometown.

"I've met some really nice people here," Ellett said. "California just got too hectic. When you get older, you just don't want that lifestyle."