Glenda Ann Walter Elvy

1936 - 2022

Glenda Ann Walter Elvy
January 26, 1936 - November 23, 2022
Glenda Ann Walter Elvy died peacefully, with family at her side, November 23, 2022, in Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, aged 86.
She was born in Los Angeles, January 26, 1936, to adored parents George and Ruth Walter. Following their example, she was always generously devoted to church and community activities, especially through music. Even from a young age she displayed amazing talent in song and on the piano.
Glenda attended San Jose State University and there, at a school folk dance in 1954, she met Ludford Elvy, Jr.; they married in 1956. For the next 51 years, until Lud's death in 2007, he could always bring out a twinkling smile and charming laugh from her with his puns and stories. In 1971, with four young children, they settled in Sebastopol. Lud had been born there and, in fact, he is a great grandson of Otis Allen who had helped pioneer the hops industry in Sebastopol.
She was "Mrs. Elvy, the Music Lady." Primarily at the UCC Community Church, Mrs. Elvy led the children and youth choirs, sang tenor through second soprano in the adult choir, and/or played the piano or organ - at nearly every Sunday service. At dozens of schools in and around Sonoma County, she also joyfully led singing and encouraged countless thousands of children to sing and to make music.
Glenda accompanied on piano for weddings, school musicals, recitals, and community events; plus she taught piano and voice lessons, was in the bell choir, and was active in many clubs in church for nearly 50 years.
Glenda Elvy's piano skills were undeniably concert quality, and she practiced a lot to keep them so. She often improvised accompaniment for someone who was singing a song, a tune that she had never heard before, and could switch musical keys and styles whenever desired, adding four-part harmonies and even counter-melodies by just the third verse - without any written music!
She was involved in many community events, especially those advocating compassion for all and acceptance of diversity (her favorite color was "all the colors of the rainbow"); this was in part a result of her own lifelong health challenges and other struggles. She had an endearing sparkle and a generous spirit, with sincere empathy and concern for all. She is truly missed.
Glenda is survived by her two sisters, Carlene Lucas and Olivia Welch, both in California, plus her four children: Walter Elvy (Anny) in Thailand; Joanna Caldwell (Kevin) in California; Dave Elvy (Gwen) in Ohio, and Karen Yvonne Johnson (Paul) in North Carolina. Glenda also has six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
A memorial service for her will be held Saturday, December 17th at 1 PM at the Sebastopol Community Church, 1000 Gravenstein Hwy. N Sebastopol CA 95472. For more information, send email to Glenda.Elvy.Memorial@gmail.com