Elliott Aviation cofounder Arlene Elliott, 91, died on Sunday at her home in Naples, Fla., the business aviation sales and services company announced today. Her husband, Herb Elliott, with whom she cofounded Elliott Aviation in 1936, died in 2005 at the age of 90. “This is a sad time for the entire Elliott Aviation family,” said son Wynn Elliott, who has been Elliott Aviation’s president and CEO since 1993. Herb Elliott founded Elliott Flying Service at Cram Field in Davenport, Iowa, in 1936, and Arlene worked full-time as secretary to the president of Victor Animatograph and worked part time keeping the Elliott Flying Service books. Arlene and Herb married in 1939. A pilot in her own right (she soloed in a Piper Cub in 1936), Arlene promoted general aviation and, according to Elliott Aviation, is widely credited with persuading banks to finance purchases of business aircraft, which allowed more entrepreneurs to gain access to them. She also served as the primary financial officer for Elliott Aviation for much of her career and was the treasurer on the company’s board of directors. She and her husband have received numerous industry awards.