Richard (Dick) and Elsie Byrne

Residents of the Lynchburg area since 1962, Elsie is from Lancaster, South Carolina, and Dick from Falls Church, Virginia, where they met in 1958. At the time, Elsie held an Executive Secretary position with the Federal Government and Dick was a student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute majoring in engineering. He had not been performing well in his studies and after meeting his southern lady decided to straighten-up if he wanted to win her hand.  Success achieved--graduation and marriage occurred in 1962.

With walking away from VPI on a Sunday and into Babcock &Wilcox’s Mount Athos plant the next Tuesday, Dick began an enjoyable 35-year career in various engineering and management roles.  Seeking employment in Lynchburg, Elsie discovered she was viewed as “overqualified” and soon saw this as a blessing in disguise as she was free to assume what she saw as the best job in town--successfully raising the Byrne’s son and daughter! Mark and his wife Donna live in Falls Church a long stone’s throw from Dick’s boyhood home. Daughter Karen, with husband Bruce, reside a long jet ride from Lynchburg in Vancouver, Washington.

Regardless of distance, the extended Byrne family have had many joint vacations on various cruises and staying at Marriott Resorts around the country. Dick and Elsie are also travelers on their own or with local area friends and have visited many countries, often via river cruises, or even a Rocky Mountaineer train journey through the Canadian Rockies. COVID has squelched distant travels for now.

Elsie enjoys many community activities, especially playing bridge for decades, flower gardening and devouring stacks of books every year. Daily puzzle solving and evening quiz shows help to round out her day. She enjoys maintaining friendships and relations with relatives, neighbors, friends and fellow church goers. If you want your spirit elevated, talk to Elsie.

Dick retired in 1997 and has been the main fixer, jack of all trades and grounds keeper at the Byrne home in Ivy Hill. As a third generation do-it-yourselfer, he does not know “what not to fix or figure out how to fix or improve”. (Admittedly, many mistakes have been made!).  Dick has always strived to give back to the community during times of employment and certainly in retirement. He has served in various roles and offices in a variety of community or civic organizations such as AARP Tax Aide (15 years), Poplar Forest volunteer (22 years), Boys State assistant (25 years), and membership in the Exchange Club for 35 years and Toastmasters for 54 years. Most important to Dick is teaching the same adult Sunday School class for 54 years!