Category: 1960s

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Robert Hunter Moore ’62

On February 5, 2023, Robert “Bob” Hunter Moore, loving husband, and father of two children, passed away at the age of 82. Bob was born on March 26, 1940, in Richmond, VA to Homer Plato and Odell America.

Majoring in History, English and Education, Bob graduated from Davidson College in 1962 where he was a member of the basketball team. Bob completed graduate studies at American University, was a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and a Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at Harvard.

Bob began work with the Department of Defense while serving in the USAF including assignment with Strategic Air Command, Airlift Division in Vietnam, and Military Traffic Management and Terminal Service. Entering civilian service, Bob worked his way up to Directorate for Transportation and Distribution Policy for the Secretary of Defense where he was a charter member in Senior Executive Service and Staff Director. Bob retired from the Pentagon as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Senior Transportation Advisor. Bob’s numerous awards include the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and DOD Distinguished Civilian Service Medal. Bob was twice awarded the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service.

Bob and his beloved wife of 47 years, Martha (predeceased) resided in Falls Church, VA and raised two children, Emily and Kathy. Post retirement, Bob enjoyed traveling, continued work with Christian Education at Falls Church Presbyterian and volunteering at VBS. He was an avid gardener, gifted carpenter, and a talented artist. Bob’s artistic ability led to teaching art classes in FCPS, recognition as Volunteer of the Year, and Clay Works in his home.

His love spread and grew into his second marriage to Carol Loy Bentley in 2014. He joyfully shared 9 years of marriage with Carol and took on the loving name of “Grand Bob” to all of his growing family. Carol and Bob enjoyed traveling, taking long walks with special dog Janie, and spending time with children and grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his father Homer Plato Moore and mother, Odell America Moore; his wife, Martha Jean Moore (Shortridge); his brother William “Willie” Moore, and his brother Homer Plato Moore Jr. He is survived by his daughter Emily McCarley Dodge; grandchild Elena Marie Dodge; his daughter Katherine Jean Johnson (Charles “C.J.”); grandchildren Elizabeth Ashley Johnson and Connor Dallas Johnson (Brittany). His second wife, Carol Loy Bentley and her son Callan Bentley (Lily); grandchild Baxter and her son Connor Bentley (Karyn), grandchildren Hunter, Madison, Parker, Dylan, Drew, Kameron and Thomas James. His sisters, Sarah Lee Province and Odell Womble; his brother-Charlie Moore (Vicky); cherished cousins, especially Ann Sale; many very special nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends. The family would like to thank the compassionate staff of Renaissance of Annandale and Goodwin House Hospice.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2023-11 a.m. at Falls Church Presbyterian Church. A private graveside service will be held on Monday, February 13, 2023, 11 a.m. at Knollkreg Memorial Park in Abingdon, VA. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Falls Church Presbyterian Church.

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William Alston Haile ’65

William Alston Haile, 79, of Kingsport, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2023, at The Waters of Bristol.

He was born February 10, 1943 in Waco, Texas to the late William and Dorothy Bidelspach Haile.

William was a loving, devoted and hardworking gentleman who cared deeply for his family.

He earned his B.S. Degree in Chemistry from Davidson College and his Master’s Degree from the University of Virginia.

William was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army having served in the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War.

He retired from Eastman Chemical Company as a Research Chemist following thirty-four years of service where he was awarded the Eastman Chairman’s Award.

William was an active member of Colonial Heights United Methodist Church where he had served on the Finance Committee, the Pre-School Board, and served as a Trustee.

He was active in civic affairs having served as a Tutor for the Literacy Council, volunteering at The Gray Fossil Site, a volunteer tax preparer and was a past President of a local Community Chest.

He was an avid reader and enjoyed tending to his rose garden.

In addition to his parents, William was preceded in death by his grandmother, Louise Bidelspach.

Those left to cherish William’s memory are his loving wife of fifty-six years, Dianna Wallace Haile; sons, Brian Haile (Maury Nation), Doug Haile (Torey); daughter, Jennifer Haile Martin; grandchildren, Aspen Martin, Oakley Martin, Linden Martin, Josey Haile and Tilley Haile; sister, Leslie Haile Seddon (John); numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends Thursday, February 9, 2023, from 4:30-6:00 pm at Colonial Heights United Methodist Church.

A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 6:00 pm with Pastor Chris Brown officiating.

Military Graveside Service conducted by The American Legion Hammond Post #3 and Gate City, VA Post #265 will be held Friday, February 10, 2023, at 11:00 am at the Mountain Home National Cemetery, Mountain Home, TN. Members of the Upper Room Sunday School Class will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Colonial Heights United Methodist Church, 631 Lebanon Road, Kingsport, TN 37663.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff at The Waters of Bristol for their compassionate care of William.

To share memories and condolences with the family please visit www.oakhillfh.com

The care of William Alston Haile and his family has been entrusted to the staff of Oak Hill Funeral & Cremation Services.

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Thomas Aaron McKenzie III ’66

Thomas Aaron McKenzie III, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, formerly of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away at home February 1, 2023. He was born in 1944 to Thomas and Evelyn McKenzie in Johnson City, Tennessee.

He graduated from North Carolina’s Davidson College in 1966 and from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1970. He completed a residency in Radiology in 1976. He served honorably in the US Navy from 1971 – 1973. Dr. McKenzie joined Radiology Associates of Huntsville, Alabama in 1976, where he practiced until his retirement in 2013.

He is survived by his wife, Angie McKenzie; daughter, Anna Albritton (Will); two grandsons, Collier and John Wells; and sisters, Susan Brickman and Nancy Rivenbark (Johnnie). He was known to Collier and John Wells as “Mac Mac.”

At his request, no memorial services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation at www.huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org/. 

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Michael Vann Milton ’69

Michael Vann Milton, 76, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2023 in Community Hospice care at Baptist Hospital after a courageous battle with Lewy body dementia.

Mike was born August 14, 1946 in Monroe, North Carolina. A top student, he graduated from Monroe High School and Davidson College, where he majored in English. Following undergraduate studies he moved to Jacksonville, Florida. While working at Prudential, he met Elizabeth Gibbs Milton. They married in 1973.

He earned an MBA in Accounting from the University of North Florida. Mike worked as a CPA and as a corporate financial officer for more than 40 years.

Mike was a voracious reader and especially loved author Vladimir Nabokov. He loved music, including artists such as Eric Clapton and Linda Ronstadt, and enjoyed attending the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

Mike deeply treasured his close friends from his Davidson Sigma Chi days, ‘The Big Chill’ group. Mike and Elizabeth traveled with the Chill group each year for nearly 50 years.

He was quick to make friends in every situation and filled his relationships with joy and laughter. As a beloved parent and grandparent, he was unfailingly supportive and instilled values such as diligence, education, and kindness to others.

Mike is survived by his wife of 49 years Elizabeth, son Michael Milton (Julia) and daughter Sara Leutzinger (Mark), and five grandchildren Jane, Stella and Flora Milton, Lindley and Walter Leutzinger, as well as siblings Susan Drew (Larry), Jackie Gillespie (Glen), Mary Warshaw, Stewart Milton (Terry), John Milton, Alice Butler, and beloved aunt Ruth Simon.

A memorial service will be held on February 9 at 3 p.m. at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd at 1100 Stockton Street in Jacksonville, FL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mike’s memory to the UF Foundation, PO 100243, Gainesville, FL 32610. Donations will be used for Lewy body dementia research at the University of Florida. Online donations are also accepted at fixel.ufhealth.org.

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William Milton Blakely, Jr. ’63

William Milton Blakely, Jr., of Flat Rock, North Carolina, passed Monday, January 16, 2023. Born June 15, 1941, to the late William Milton Blakely, Sr., and Sarah Maslin Wells Blakely in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bill was eighty-one years old.

Bill earned his Bachelor’s in History from Davidson College and a Master’s in Counseling from Ball State University. Bill served his country in the United States Army in wartime and peace, in Korea, Vietnam, Okinawa, West Germany, and many stateside postings. After his military career, he continued protecting our troops and their families in the civil service as Safety Manager of Ft. Benning’s Martin Army Hospital near Columbus, Georgia, where he served with great distinction and once personally extinguished a fire that threatened the facility and its patients.

Bill was involved with Boy Scouts of America as a young man, attending jamborees across the world and achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a crack shot on the rifle team at Davidson, where his marksmanship earned him the nickname “Bullet.” He met his wife Juliette on a blind date in college and only left her side afterward when his country called. He was a member, Elder, and Deacon of Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Georgia, and a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Flat Rock, North Carolina. Though his service years moved him and his family around the world, Bill remained a North Carolinian at heart, and he was thrilled to retire to his parent’s home in 2005 at Bonclarken Presbyterian Conference Center. Bill greatly loved western North Carolina, especially Hendersonville and Flat Rock.

Bill was a voracious reader of every kind of science fiction and history and was a Biblical history scholar. He was a strong defender of civil liberties, regardless of race, origin, gender, orientation, or creed, and he was a patriot. He was a proud Preacher’s Kid and Army Brat. He force-marched his three boys throughout Europe for the best childhoods they could imagine. Bill was a truly good man: gentle, kind, caring, patient, empathetic, and loving. The world is a better place because he walked in it.

Bill was a very devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Surviving him is his wife of fifty-eight years, Juliette Brown Blakely; sons, William Wells Blakely (and wife, Beth) and Robert Brown Blakely (and wife, Leigh) of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Charles Jones Blakely (and wife, Linda) of Superior, Colorado; sister, Sally Shook (and husband, Gary) of Topeka, Kansas; grandchildren, William Evan Blakely, John Kevin Blakely, Kjersten Alise Gray and Katelynn Amanda Gray of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Matthew William Blakely and Sara Elizabeth Blakely of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Jack Coleman Blakely and Samantha Marie Blakely of Superior, Colorado; sister-in-law, Anne Cason Brown, of Greenwood, South Carolina; and nephew, Joseph Cason Brown, of Columbia, South Carolina, and nieces Lara Shook Murphy (and husband, Steve) of Topeka, Kansas, and Tara Shook of Kansas City, Missouri.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church (900 Blythe Street, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28791).