Richard D. Gillespie ’45

Richard D. Gillespie ’45, 87, passed away peacefully on June 16, under the loving watch of his family at his home in Charlotte, N.C. Gillespie was born Jan. 29, 1924, in Effingham, S.C., the son of the late W.B. and Ruth Wilbourne Gillespie, Sr. 1907. He attended Davidson before he was drafted into service in the U.S. Army during WWII, where he was seriously wounded in action on the German border and received the Purple Heart. After an extended stay in the hospital, he went on to continue his studies at Duke University and then at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. After graduation from Harvard, he relocated to Charlotte to pursue his architectural career at Odell Associates, where he was involved in the designing of the Charlotte Coliseum, Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte Public Library. and other projects. Later in his career, he formed his own firm specializing in elegant residential homes and concurrently managed his family’s cotton farm in Rowland, N.C. He was loved, admired, and respected by many. His contributions to the community were generous and varied. He served as a deacon at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Above all, he was a devoted father and husband. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Mary May Mitchell Gillespie, 9621 Elm Ln., Charlotte, NC 28277-0035; his son, David Mitchell Gillespie (Sinclair Ellett Gillespie); three grandchildren, Richard Tazewell Gillespie, Walker Russell Gillespie, and William Harrison Gillespie; nieces, Betsy C. Griffith (James H. Griffith, Jr.) and Jane W. Gillespie; sister-in-law, Fay M. Hand; brother-in-law, Calvin D. Mitchell, Jr. (Tanya L. Mitchell); and nephew, William B. Choate, Jr. (Alicia V. Choate) and their sons, William B. Choate III and J. Mitchell Choate.