Ralph R. Eley

Ralph Rowland Eley, 73, of Sutherland, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007, at the Hopewell Health Care Center. Born in Petersburg, he was the son of the late Rowland S. and Christle Brackens Eley. Mr. Eley was a retired maintenance machinist at Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co., Petersburg. He was a member of Matoaca Baptist Church, and the International Association of Machinists, Local #10. He had a fruitful life that included his work with NASCAR. He enjoyed opportunities to travel to many interesting places, and he held many positions within the machinists' union, in which he remained active even after his retirement.

A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Annie; daughter, Jean Lundie of Sutherland; son, Rowland "Buddy" Eley and wife Susan of Concord, N.C.; four grandchildren, Nicholas Eley, Heather Eley and fiancé Clinton Pennell, Jeffrey Lundie and Rebecca Lundie; two special friends he considered grandchildren, Ashley Sessums and Cory Vaughan; two brothers, Ronnie Eley and wife Ursula of Tennessee and Donald Eley and wife Sam of Dinwiddie; three sisters, Christle Bishop and husband Francis, Jacklyn Owen and husband Henry and Jeanette Eley, all of Dinwiddie; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank special friends and caretakers Gladys and Willard Lesley, Hattie Duncan and Gerald Mitchell.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, in the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard, with the Rev. Donald Joyner officiating. Entombment will be in Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.