Edward John McElroy
Edward John McElroy, of Cape Coral, died Thursday, April 16, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in 1920 in Providence, R.I.
A veteran of World War II, he flew on B-17 bombers with the 8th Air Force, completing 25 combat missions out of Great Ashfield in Suffolk, England. He was awarded 13 medals and decorations for his service.
He studied at the University of Rhode Island and Brown University.
In 1946, he started a medical acoustics company in Rhode Island, which he expanded throughout New England. He helped develop the first wearable all-in-one hearing aid in the 1950s and served on several national boards over the next 25 years.
He moved his family to Cape Coral in 1966 and retired in 1976.
He was a charter member of the Palmetto-Pine Country Club and relished his years perfecting his golf and tennis games. He served on the board of directors for the Casa Ybel Resort on Sanibel for 22 years and the Sanibel Harbour Condominium Association for 15 years. On each board, he held offices of president and vice president and performed other official duties.
In 1996, he was voted “Board Member of the Year” by the Community Association Institute, South Gulf Coast Chapter.
He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 385th Bombardment Group Association. He was a patron of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Ga.
He leaves his beloved wife, Beverly Simone McElroy, to whom he was married to for 60 years; daughters, Melody (Bill) Streeter of Racine, Wis., and Melissa (Jerry) Sparks of St. Petersburg, Fla.; son, Christopher (Jenny) McElroy of Alva, Fla.; and grandchildren, Todd Streeter of Racine, Wis., Caleb Streeter of Evanston, Ill., and Megan and Evan McElroy of Alva, Fla.
He will be remembered for his integrity, perseverance and generosity, and that twinkle in his eye. He gave of his time, talent and treasure to help his family, church and friends. A loving husband, father, grandfather and honorable gentleman, he will deeply missed by all who knew him.
Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Internment with military honors will be at a later date in Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, P.O. Box 1992, Savannah, GA 31402, or Hope Hospice, 2430 Diplomat Parkway E., Cape Coral, FL 33909.