Royce Elmo ‘R.E.’ Charlton, Jr.

Published 1:37 pm Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Royce Elmo “R.E.” Charlton Jr. of Dillwyn, died on October 26, 2016 at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital at the age of 87 with his family by his side.

A graduate of Virginia Tech in 1950 and member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Mr. Charlton served in World War II reconstruction in 1954 in Stuttgart, Germany as part of the Army Signal Corps. Following his Army service, he returned to Dillwyn to the family farm where he raised broilers, tended laying hens, bred cattle as a founding member of the Buckingham Cattlemen’s Association, and was a member of several other agricultural organizations.

R.E. was a member, deacon, and trustee of Dillwyn First Baptist Church. As a fellow of the National Speleological Society, he explored previously uncharted caves in VA, WV, KY, and TN. He was a pioneer in cave radio and featured in numerous caving publications.

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He is survived by his wife, Barbara Callison Charlton; his sons, Royce Elmo Charlton, III (Julianna) and Timothy Callison Charlton (Anabella); his daughter, Jenny Lee Charlton Barrier (Brian); two grandsons, Alistair Charlton Barrier and Ronan Scott Barrier; as well as a brother, Dr. Harvey J. Charlton (Robin).

The funeral was held at First Baptist Church, Dillwyn, with burial in the Dillwyn Town Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Dillwyn or the Dillwyn Rescue Squad.

Dunkum Funeral Home, Dillwyn, served the family. www.dunkumfuneralhome.com