Henry Kerley Elliott

Henry Kerley Elliott (90) of West Hartford, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family as they sang his favorite hymns, on November 6, 2014. He was born October 10, 1924 in Mt. Airy, North Carolina and delivered by his grandfather, Dr. John L. Woltz, a country doctor who delivered all of his own children and grandchildren. Henry's father, Lt. Kerley Commodore Elliott, piloted a De Havilland DH-4 over France in WWI. After the war, he came home and raised 4 children. Henry was the first born. Throughout the Depression and following, Kerley challenged his children with 2 cent math problems increasing to 25 cent problems. Henry rose to the challenges and other "big boy" jobs like repairing electrical cords by the time he was 9 years old. That was followed by lifelong skills in Amateur Radio and Morse code. He was a member of the American Radio Relay League with call letters K1BLT. He received contact cards (QSL) from over 300 countries as well as contacting the first astronaut who carried a ham radio to outer space. Sgt. Elliott faithfully served his country in the US Army Signal Corps in the Philippines as a radio operator during World War II. Returning home, he graduated from Duke University with a degree in electrical engineering in 1949. He earned a Professional Engineering License soon after. During his last years at Duke University, he performed a college practicum with the Rural Electrification Act. This brought him to Columbia, NC, and, as fate would have it, pulled the wire from the pole to the home of J. Haywood and Kate Swain, grandparents of his future bride. Henry met the love of his life after being invited over for watermelon by her father following Sunday night church service. The week after his graduation on June 11th, he married Alberta Swain of Williamston, NC. Following the wedding they lived in Norfolk, VA where Henry was employed by Virginia Electric and Power Company. The next six years were spent in building his engineering career at VEPCO and a strong relationship with Epworth Methodist Church. Then he was transferred to Richmond, VA where his first child, Lola, was born. In 1956, Henry was recruited by the Travelers Insurance Company to join their engineering division. His second child, Henry Kerley Elliott, Jr (Hank) and third child Eve, were both born in Hartford. Travelers (aptly named) sent Henry into 48 states and Puerto Rico during his thirty years as an electrical engineer in their Casualty-Property Department. In this capacity, Henry inspected failed large- scale power- generation (i.e. Hoover & Grand Coulee Dams) equipment across the country. His unique problem solving skills led him to lecturing in every major city in the contiguous US. He spoke to auditoriums filled with engineers, attorneys and business people who came to learn from him how to solve power generation issues and save their companies millions of dollars. In this capacity, Henry was unequaled. Henry stayed with Travelers until his retirement in 1985. He continued as a consulting engineer with Industrial Risk Insurers for 5 years and then as a private contractor. Henry's life revolved around family and United Methodist Church of Hartford. It was there that he and wife, Alberta, established their enduring friendship with Harold and Sandra Ann Craig. It was in 1958 that Henry and Alberta began their volunteer tenure as Northeastern Coordinators for the International Christian Youth Exchange Program. They opened their home to two students, Marja Voipio from Finland and Synnove Heggoy from Algeria who lived with them for a year and on and off in years to come. In 1965 Solveig Ronnqvist from Helsinki joined their family for 7 years. All of these women continue to be a part of the Elliott family. Henry's church further used his skills as Sunday School Superintendent, Chair of Trustees, member of Church Council, and with his wife, co-lay- leader. Of the fifty-seven years of active membership in his church, he spent eighteen of the years as co-leader and sound engineer of The Chapel Singers, an interfaith, interracial youth choir performing locally and touring the east coast from Montreal to Virginia. Henry spent many years as a scout leader inspiring his son to become an Eagle Scout. He was also an active member of the Hartford Bridge Club winning numerous championships. Henry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Alberta Swain Elliott; brother Robert Louis Elliott of Lexington, NC; daughter Lola Elliott-Hugh and husband Robert Hugh of West Hartford, CT; son Hank and wife Allison Warnick Elliott of Tolland, MA; daughter Eve Elliott Nix of West Hartford, CT; granddaughters Jessica Lola Nix of West Hartford, CT and Mariah Elliott Schmitt and husband Jeremy of Wake Forest, NC. He was eagerly awaiting the birth of his first great grandchild, Luke Henry Schmitt due in January 2015. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Mary Kent Apperson Elliott, Olena Swain Bunn and Mary Kate Swain Daniels and three generations of nieces and nephews. Henry was predeceased by his parents, Kerley Commodore Elliott and Lola Vivian Woltz Elliott, siblings Greer Woltz Elliott and Louise Elliott Reed. Henry was also predeceased by sister-in-law Carolyn Davis Elliott and brothers-in-law Ben Daniels and Elmo Bunn; and nephew Alan Bunn. Henry was nonjudgmental. He appreciated people from all walks of life. He will be remembered for his loving dedication to family, his strong faith, his keen intellect and for his unending sense of humor (he was a HAM in more ways than one). A Memorial Celebration of Henry's life will be held on Saturday, 11/15/2014 at 1:00 PM at United Methodist Church of Hartford, 571 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT, 06105. Memorial donations may be made to his church or to the American Radio Relay League, H. Elliott- K1BLT, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111. You are invited to share a memory and to sign the guestbook at www.taylorandmodeen.com.