Frank Dixon McElwee

(1920 - 2008)

Frank was born on December 15, 1920 at the Frank Dixon homestead in Amite County, Mississippi. He was the second son of Charles Victor McElwee, Sr. and Julia Covington Dixon. He was named for his maternal grandfather, David Frank Dixon I.

In Frank's youth he was an Eagle Scout, an achievement of which he was always proud.

Frank and his childhood schoolmate and sweetheart, Dolly Virginia Graves, were married in the Army Chapel at Camp Beale, California, on November 24, 1942.

Frank was gifted with keen intelligence, and with energy and determination. He was educated in the public schools of Centreville, Mississippi; Louisiana State University; the University of California (Berkeley); the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. In addition, he was always a student of history and of life.

He received a direct commission in the Regular Army following graduation from LSU and served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1942 to 1967. Participating in the planning of the invasion of Normandy, France, in 1944, he was wounded on Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, and hospitalized until December 1945.

Following service in Occupied Japan (1947-50), he served in five campaigns in Korea during 1951-52 and commanded the 116th Engineer Combat Battalion, being promoted to Major in 1950 and Lieutenant Colonel in 1952.

Following service in Puerto Rico and on the staff at West Point, he was promoted to Colonel at age 39 and served on the staff of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, in Paris, France, later commanding the 11th Engineer Combat Group in Germany.

He returned to the United States in 1964 and commanded the Corps' Walla Walla District until 1967 during the construction of John Day, Little Goose, Lower Granite, Dworshak and Ririe Dams.

After partnership with Coverdale Colpitts, service with Consolidated Edison of New York and Washington Public Power Supply System, he retired in 1981.

An avid golfer from the time that he was introduced to the sport on the links in Japan, he earned the club championship while serving in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In later years, Frank, with Virginia at his side, became an enthusiastic gardener.

Following 'retirement,' Frank's life took instruction from Luke 12:48 'Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required.' An elder in the First Presbyterian Church, Kennewick, Wash., he was also active in the Presbytery of Central Washington, serving as its Moderator in 1991. He was active on the Board of the Mental Health Center in Richland and of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. Frank was also active on the Board of Trustees of Kadlec Medical Center, and in the Richland Rotary Club, serving as President of both organizations.

In November 2007, Frank and Virginia celebrated 65 years of marriage. Frank is survived by Virginia; daughter Carolyn Holmes (Edwin III) of Spokane, Wash.; son Frank Dixon Jr. (Linda Camp) of Boca Raton, Fla.; granddaughters Caleigh and Devon McElwee, and grandsons David McElwee; Edwin Holmes IV (Debra Crane); Nathan Holmes (Laura Park); and Seth Holmes. Great-grandsons are Aidan and Kellan Holmes. Frank and Virginia's son, Charles Edward, of Seattle, passed away in March 1995.

The family would like to express its deep appreciation to the caring staffs of Hospice at the Chaplaincy, Hospice House, and the Tri-Cities Cancer Center; as well as to Frank's many friends who have expressed their condolences through many acts of kindness.

A memorial service, and Celebration of the Resurrection will be held at Kennewick First Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2008.