Charles Dwelle Elyea, Jr. ’49

Charles Dwelle Elyea, Jr. ’49, 87, passed away Jan. 13, 2012, at his home in Richmond, Va. Elyea, the son of Cora Thomson Saville and Charles Dwelle Elyea, was born Nov. 9, 1924, in Atlanta, Ga. After serving in five campaigns in France and Germany during WWII, he graduated from Davidson in 1949 with a B.A. in philosophy and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He attended Union Theological Seminary and received bachelor of divinity and master of theology degrees from Columbia Seminary. He was ordained in 1957 and served five churches in N.C., S.C., Ga., and Va. Upon retirement in 1992, he moved to Bristol and served as a supply minister to a number of churches throughout Abingdon Presbytery in Va., and Holston Presbytery in Tenn. An avid golfer, Elyea was also a devoted member of the Bristol Kiwanis Club. Walnut Grove Presbyterian was his church home for 17 years. Due to failing health, he and his wife moved to Richmond to live with their son in 2009. Elyea is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Ann Snellgrove Elyea, 2107 Boxwood Pl., Henrico, VA 23228-3806; three children, Emily Elyea Gardner, Charles Emmett “Chuck” Elyea ’84 (Donna), and David Franklin Elyea; seven grandchildren, Katharine Townsend Gardner Gunning (Tim), William Douglas Gardner, Jr. (Chelsea), Claire Shaw Gardner, Joshua Bryan Elyea, Jonathan Gordon Elyea, Jennifer Susan Elyea, and Charles Joseph Elyea; one great-grandson, Grayson Lee Gardner; one sister, Elizabeth Elyea Ward; numerous nieces and nephews; and a much-beloved “adopted” son and caregiver, Mark Shady, of Richmond, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Dorothy Elyea McKenzie.