Harvey George Gillespie

In Loving Memory of

Harvey George Gillespie, Jr.

Harvey George Gillespie, Jr., age 88, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2015 following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Harvey was born in Amonate, Virginia on September 10, 1926 to the late Harvey George, Sr. and Barbara Emmons Hurt Gillespie. He attended Lynchburg College and then joined the ROTC and graduated from his beloved Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1948. He was assigned to the Army’s Missile Proving Grounds in White Sands, NM prior to the Korean War. After his discharge he returned to Roanoke, Virginia where he and his future brother-in-law worked on the Norfolk and Western Railway. In 1957, he joined the team at American Electric Power Company and helped startup the new Clinch River Power station in Southwest Virginia. Harvey was transferred to the power station at Radford Army Ammunition Plant in 1968 and then to the Glen Lyn Power Plant in 1972 as Plant Engineer where he worked until his retirement in 1988. Harvey was an avid fan of Virginia Tech football and basketball and enjoyed traveling, golf, hunting and fishing and in later years visiting and playing with his grandchildren. He was a member and past presidents of Giles Country Club and the Pearisburg Kiwanis club and a long-time active member, past Administrative Board Chairman and continuing supporter of Pearisburg First United Methodist Church. In addition to his parents, Harvey was preceded in death by an infant sister, Mary Barbara Gillespie of Pounding Mill, Virginia. Harvey is survived by his bride of 58 years, Gertrude Croft Gillespie and sister Olivia Gillespie Graham of Roanoke, Virginia, son Harvey George Gillespie, III and daughter-in-law Diane Stumbaugh Gillespie of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Stewart Croft Gillespie and Warren Hurt Gillespie of Pearisburg. Also surviving to remember him lovingly are Harvey’s grandchildren, Kavanaugh MacPherson Gillespie of Tampa, Florida, Katherine Hailey Gillespie of Virginia Beach, Leah Elizabeth Gillespie of Charlottesville, Virginia and Walker Howard Gillespie of Pearisburg. The family will receive visitors between 5 and 7 PM on Tuesday, April 21 at Givens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 1100 Valleyview Drive, Pearisburg, Virginia on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 11:00 and a graveside service will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell, Virginia at 2:00 PM. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Pearisburg First United Methodist Church. The family would like to thank the loving caregivers, especially Patty Midkiff, for all of their tireless attention and nurture throughout Harvey’s illness. Online condolences can be sent to the family at givensfuneralhome.com.