Harry Byrd Elam Sr., 83, passed suddenly on March 31, 2016. Harry Byrd was born on May 13, 1932 in Elam, and was the youngest of the six children of William Carter Elam Sr. and Janie Claire Fuqua Elam.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Joanne Naomi Farr Elam; daughters, Katherine Elam Busser (Mark) and Sarah Elam Puckett (Marc) and sons, Harry Byrd Elam Jr. (Elizabeth Paul) and William Fuqua Elam (Mary Frances Turner). Harry Byrd was so proud of his ten grandchildren, Keaton Busser, Grayson Busser, Virginia Elam, Wyatt Elam, Mary Margaret Elam, Kate Elam, Emma Elam, Olivia Elam, Grace Puckett and John Elam. He is also survived by his sister Rosemary Elam Pritchard; his brother-in-law, Emery Coles Wilkerson and his sister-in-law, Jean Elam., He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, William Carter Elam Jr., Elliott Fuqua Elam, Robert Everett Elam and his sister, Emma Frances Elam Wilkerson.

He graduated from Pamplin High School. In 1953, Harry Byrd was inducted in the United States Army and served as a Private First Class. He returned to attend Hampden-Sydney College and graduated with his B.S. Degree in Physics in 1960. While at Hampden-Sydney he was a member of the Sigma Sigma chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Following graduation, he pursued his graduate engineering studies at the University of Virginia.

On September 10,1960, he and Joanne Farr were married at the Westover Hills Baptist Church in Richmond. They moved to Charlottesville where Harry began his career as an optical engineer with Sperry Marine Systems. During his 25-year career with Sperry he designed the optical systems for periscopes on U.S. Navy submarines. He also served with the Sperry Rand Space Division at Nasa’s Goddard Space station leading design work on the orbiting telescopes. In 1970, he moved to Elam so that he and Joanne could raise their children on his old family farm, a land grant from King George, II that has been in his family since March of 1745.  He retired in 1990 and pursued his love of farming and gardening. Harry Byrd’s favorite pastime was being with his family. He loved Thanksgiving with his entire extended family and Christmas with all of his grandchildren. He enjoyed politics, the stock market and reading the newspaper from cover to cover every day. He is well loved and will be missed by his entire family.

A private service and interment was held on Monday, April 4 at the Olive Branch United Methodist Church in Prospect with the Reverend John P. Campbell, a long time friend of the family, presiding.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department, the Pamplin Volunteer Fire Department and the Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Puckett Funeral Home, Farmville, was in charge of arrangements. www.puckettfh.com