Robert Wiley Mcelwain
November 3, 1921 — June 29, 2014
Robert Wiley McElwain, age 92, was received into Gods’ loving hands on Sunday, June 29, 2014. He was surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at the Masonic Village Health Care facility in Elizabethtown, PA where he had lived for 21 years with his wife of 65 years, Marian L. (Strine) McElwain.
Wiley was born on November 3, 1921 on the family farm in New Park, PA, son of R. Carl and Golda (Wiley) McElwain. He was a graduate of Fawn Grove High School. He met and married Marian L Strine of Emigsville on April 30, 1949. He was a lifelong farmer raising dairy cattle, crops and beef cattle. Wylie served as treasury of Center Presbyterian Church was active in 4H as a leader and Young Farmers Association of York County. He also worked at Consolidated Freightways in Emigsville for 10 years. After retiring he enjoyed driving charter and school buses for Red Lion Bus Company. He was a member of the Stewartstown Lions Club for many years where he enjoyed cooking chicken at the Annual Chicken Barbeque.
In retirement he was a member of The Shrewsbury Lodge No. 423 of Free and Accepted Masons and the Consistory in Harrisburg. After moving to the Masonic Village, he helped in the community garden assisting and teaching other residents how to garden. He enjoyed growing sweet corn and tomatoes and sharing them with the residents who lived around him. He made toys and furniture with new friends at the woodshop. Wiley and Marian volunteered in the health care center wheeling residents to therapy and daily activities.
His greatest joy and pleasure was giving his time to help his children and grandchildren with their daily tasks. He taught thru example the value of hard work and self-reliance. He often returned to the farm to drive a tractor or use the skid loader. He would take vegetables to his children’s homes where they would find a cantaloupe, sweetcorn or tomatoes or maybe baked apples when they returned home. He enjoyed reading farm magazines and telling farm stories.
Wiley McElwain is survived by his wife Marian and two sisters, Laura McElwain and Margaret Vinup of New Park; and three children Daniel R. McElwain and wife Patricia (Leight) of New Park, PA, Ruth Anne (McElwain) and husband Lloyd Snyder of White Hall, MD, and Carl N. McElwain and wife Mary (Miller) of Dillsburg, PA.; grandchildren, Kristina (McElwain) and husband Gregory Wilt of New Park, Heather (McElwain) and husband Scott Houser of Thomasville, PA , Laura Snyder of White Hall, MD, Alicia (Miller) Boff and husband Jason Boff of York, PA and Scott Miller of Dillsburg, PA; great grandchildren, Wiley and Emma Wilt, Katie, Mason, and Allie Houser, Jake and Jackson Boff; nephew Thomas Vinup and niece Joan Vinup.
Following cremation, a “Memorial Service to Celebrate Wiley’s Life” service including Masonic service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at the Roosevelt Assembly room at the Masonic Village, One Masonic Drive in Elizabethtown, PA and at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at Centre Presbyterian Church, New Park Road, in New Park PA. Arrangements by Miller-Sekely Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 North Market Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. www.millerfuneralhome.com.
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