Robert Raymond McElveen

Robert Raymond “Ray” McElveen, 80, went to be with his Lord on May 19, 2012. He was born March 15, 1932, at Evergreen community, Florence County SC, the fifth child of Adam Paul McElveen, Sr. and Lillie Johnson. He attended Evergreen Elementary School and McClenaghan High School in Florence, SC where he graduated in 1950. He served four years in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict before attending the University of South Carolina, where he received a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1959. Following graduation, Ray married Jennie Mackey from Kershaw, SC, in February 1960.

In January 1964, Ray went to work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. There he was involved with the check out and launch of the Saturn Launch Vehicle for the Apollo Moon Landings and the Space Lab for the Space Shuttle programs. He was involved in testing in the area of telemetry ground support systems. He retired from NASA in 1993 after 29 years of service. While in Florida, Ray was an active member of Cocoa Presbyterian Church and proudly served as an elder for many years. After his wife Jennie’s death in 1994, Ray became reacquainted with Harriett Benton Wade, a childhood friend, of Evergreen and Columbia, SC. They married in July of 1995 and returned to their home state of South Carolina in 1997. He became an active member of St. Andrews Baptist Church and the Beau’s Boys Sunday school class. Ray also served with the Ruritan Club of Saluda and with Habitat for Humanity. He enthusiastically enjoyed Gamecock sports, especially football and baseball. He also enjoyed traveling and operating his model trains.

He is survived by his loving wife, Harriett Benton Wade McElveen of Lexington, SC, two daughters, Elizabeth (Jervey) Simons of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Rebecca (Bradley) Johnson of Richland, WA, two stepdaughters, Kathy Wade (Val) Valenta of Columbia, Peggy (Ernest) Platt of Irmo, SC, nine grandsons (Zachary, Caleb, Seth, Joel, Josiah, Micah, Ben, Trey, and Michael), one favorite granddaughter (Bethany), and three great grandchildren (Mae, Owen, and Alec). He is also survived by his sister, Valeria Murray of Ellisville, MO.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Jennie Mackey McElveen, two sisters, Beatrice Tomlinson and Sybil Brown, and a brother, Adam Paul McElveen, Jr.

The service will be held Tuesday, May 22, 2:00 pm, at St. Andrews Baptist Church, 230 Bush River Road in Columbia. Burial, with full military honors, will be held on Wednesday, May 23, at the National Cemetery in Florence at 11:00 am. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, is assisting the family. The family requests that any memorials be made to St. Andrews Baptist Church, Columbia, or the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia 29210