F. Reid Ervin

F. Reid Ervin VIRGINIA BEACH - F. Reid Ervin, 89, passed away Dec. 30, 2010 after a long and courageous fight against a debilitating illness, surrounded by his family and friends. Reid was born in China Grove, N.C., seventh in a large family of Scotch-Irish descent and a fighter from the day he was born until the day he died. He was named after Dr. Fred Reid Black, his family physician because, as his mother said, she had run out of Biblical names to call him. Reid grew up in Durham, N.C., where his father was the first barber at Duke University. He and his younger brother were close friends with the children of Dr. William Few, the first president of Duke University. In his early years, he and his younger brother became entrepreneurs by salvaging tobacco from university research projects and selling it along with cigarette paper so that the students at Duke could roll their own. Reid was a track star at Durham High School, N.C., from which he graduated in three years, after which he then attended Duke University on a full scholarship, graduating in 1942 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. Reid was then commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy. While taking advanced courses at Cal Tech, he was one out of several who witnessed the filming of the final airport scene in the movie Casablanca. He later served in various assignments in eastern Virginia and North Carolina, including NAS Franklin, where he was XO. During this time he met and courted his future wife, Frances "Punky" Hart Broughton. They were married at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension on March 12, 1943, and were together until her death from Alzheimer's disease in November 2008. After being discharged from the Navy in 1946, Reid taught engineering at Duke University and later worked with several construction firms before starting his own business in 1952, which eventually became Reid Associates Inc. The firm was well respected in its field, a AAA contractor for the Navy, and winner of numerous awards. In 1955 Reid moved his family to the largely rural North End of Virginia Beach, becoming active in the county's civic affairs. Among those he became president of the Virginia Beach Kiwanis Club, founding member of the Virginia Beach SPCA, and a founding member of The Virginian-Pilot Relays, a major track event in Hampton Roads. Reid was also active in the political life of Virginia Beach and served on City Council from 1970-74 and again from 1978-82, for four years as vice mayor. He was also an active advocate for a clean environment and government not under the control of special interests. Reid was a proud member of the Cavalier and Princess Anne Country Clubs, and enjoyed golfing, tennis, and boating at his homes in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and Sanibel Island, Fla. Reid is survived by his three children, Reid Hart Ervin (Harriet), Stephen Collins Ervin (Vicki), and Diane Ervin Sumerlin (Christopher); his grandchildren, Alexandra "Henly" Ervin (Charles Schmitt), Mary Reid Ervin Daly (Daniel), Lauren Collins Ervin, Bret Hart Ervin, and Daniel Christopher Sumerlin, Sandy Broughton Sumerlin; and many nieces and nephews. Although born a Methodist and devoted to his faith, he honored his wife by becoming a member of the Episcopal Church. He was an active member of the Church of the Advent in Norfolk and then at Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, where he was a Sunday School teacher and youth leader. During his years in this capacity he was privileged to be the spiritual mentor and advocate for a generation of believers who later became leaders in their own right, to the benefit of the city and region. He served several terms as a vestryman, stewardship chairman, and junior and senior warden. Perhaps his most profound experience as a Christian was his relationship with the Reverend Bud Crigger, a former football coach at Smithfield High School, whom he assisted in establishing a mission and church at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. Reid built the original church as an act of Christian charity and supported Bud Crigger throughout his ministry. A memorial service celebrating Reid's life will be held Monday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m. at Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. A reception will be held following the service in the church social hall, which all are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial donation in Reid's name are encouraged to remember Galilee Episcopal Church outreach program, the Boothbay Region Land Trust, the Virginia Beach SPCA, the Reid and Frances B. Ervin Scholarship program at Duke University, and his beloved Lady Monarchs of Old Dominion University. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, is handling arrangements.