By Bill Price, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
POSTED: FEBRUARY 14, 1997
Charles W. McElwain, 72, of Milmont Park, a former superintendent of the Ridley Township Police Department, died Monday at Taylor Hospital.
Mr. McElwain, who rose through the ranks, served as superintendent from 1971 until retiring in 1978. He had joined the police force in 1948 as a patrolman.
After leaving the police department, he worked for Delaware County for the next seven years as director of the Police Mira-Code System, a central records retrieval system.
During his career, he attended numerous training sessions offered by the FBI, State Police and the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.
Before joining the police department, he worked as an electrician for the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corp. in Eddystone.
A lifelong resident of Ridley Township, he graduated from Ridley High School, where he played football and baseball.
He served as a gunner's mate in the Navy during World War II and was assigned for 27 months to the amphibious forces in the South Pacific and participated in the recapture of the Philippines.
Mr. McElwain was a member of the International, Pennsylvania, Southeast Pennsylvania and Delaware County Chiefs of Police Associations and served as president of the Delaware County unit in 1977.
He was also instrumental in creating the first police firing range in the county.
Mr. McElwain was a member of Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Milmont Park and the Men of Malvern, where he was recruiter of the Curran Memorial group.
He was also a member of the Ridley Township Oldtimers Association, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Dougherty McGee-Mazepink Post 639 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Woodlyn, the Milmont and Ridley Township Republican Clubs, and the Milmont Park and Woodlyn Fire Companies.
Mr. McElwain was predeceased by both of his children, Patrick E. and Eileen.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ann M. Martin McElwain, and a sister, Rose Friel.
Friends may call after 6:30 tonight and after 9:45 a.m. tomorrow at the James F. Knoetgen Funeral Home, 746 Kedron Ave., Morton. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Peace Church, Belmont and Milmont Avenues, Milmont Park. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Our Lady of Peace Church Memorial Fund, 501 Belmont Ave., Milmont Park, Pa. 19033, or St. Joseph's Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, Pa. 19031
POSTED: FEBRUARY 14, 1997
Charles W. McElwain, 72, of Milmont Park, a former superintendent of the Ridley Township Police Department, died Monday at Taylor Hospital.
Mr. McElwain, who rose through the ranks, served as superintendent from 1971 until retiring in 1978. He had joined the police force in 1948 as a patrolman.
After leaving the police department, he worked for Delaware County for the next seven years as director of the Police Mira-Code System, a central records retrieval system.
During his career, he attended numerous training sessions offered by the FBI, State Police and the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.
Before joining the police department, he worked as an electrician for the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corp. in Eddystone.
A lifelong resident of Ridley Township, he graduated from Ridley High School, where he played football and baseball.
He served as a gunner's mate in the Navy during World War II and was assigned for 27 months to the amphibious forces in the South Pacific and participated in the recapture of the Philippines.
Mr. McElwain was a member of the International, Pennsylvania, Southeast Pennsylvania and Delaware County Chiefs of Police Associations and served as president of the Delaware County unit in 1977.
He was also instrumental in creating the first police firing range in the county.
Mr. McElwain was a member of Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Milmont Park and the Men of Malvern, where he was recruiter of the Curran Memorial group.
He was also a member of the Ridley Township Oldtimers Association, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Dougherty McGee-Mazepink Post 639 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Woodlyn, the Milmont and Ridley Township Republican Clubs, and the Milmont Park and Woodlyn Fire Companies.
Mr. McElwain was predeceased by both of his children, Patrick E. and Eileen.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ann M. Martin McElwain, and a sister, Rose Friel.
Friends may call after 6:30 tonight and after 9:45 a.m. tomorrow at the James F. Knoetgen Funeral Home, 746 Kedron Ave., Morton. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Peace Church, Belmont and Milmont Avenues, Milmont Park. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Our Lady of Peace Church Memorial Fund, 501 Belmont Ave., Milmont Park, Pa. 19033, or St. Joseph's Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, Pa. 19031
By Bill Price, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
POSTED: FEBRUARY 14, 1997
Charles W. McElwain, 72, of Milmont Park, a former superintendent of the Ridley Township Police Department, died Monday at Taylor Hospital.
Mr. McElwain, who rose through the ranks, served as superintendent from 1971 until retiring in 1978. He had joined the police force in 1948 as a patrolman.
After leaving the police department, he worked for Delaware County for the next seven years as director of the Police Mira-Code System, a central records retrieval system.
During his career, he attended numerous training sessions offered by the FBI, State Police and the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.
Before joining the police department, he worked as an electrician for the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corp. in Eddystone.
A lifelong resident of Ridley Township, he graduated from Ridley High School, where he played football and baseball.
He served as a gunner's mate in the Navy during World War II and was assigned for 27 months to the amphibious forces in the South Pacific and participated in the recapture of the Philippines.
Mr. McElwain was a member of the International, Pennsylvania, Southeast Pennsylvania and Delaware County Chiefs of Police Associations and served as president of the Delaware County unit in 1977.
He was also instrumental in creating the first police firing range in the county.
Mr. McElwain was a member of Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Milmont Park and the Men of Malvern, where he was recruiter of the Curran Memorial group.
He was also a member of the Ridley Township Oldtimers Association, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Dougherty McGee-Mazepink Post 639 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Woodlyn, the Milmont and Ridley Township Republican Clubs, and the Milmont Park and Woodlyn Fire Companies.
Mr. McElwain was predeceased by both of his children, Patrick E. and Eileen.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ann M. Martin McElwain, and a sister, Rose Friel.
Friends may call after 6:30 tonight and after 9:45 a.m. tomorrow at the James F. Knoetgen Funeral Home, 746 Kedron Ave., Morton. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Peace Church, Belmont and Milmont Avenues, Milmont Park. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Our Lady of Peace Church Memorial Fund, 501 Belmont Ave., Milmont Park, Pa. 19033, or St. Joseph's Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, Pa. 19031
POSTED: FEBRUARY 14, 1997
Charles W. McElwain, 72, of Milmont Park, a former superintendent of the Ridley Township Police Department, died Monday at Taylor Hospital.
Mr. McElwain, who rose through the ranks, served as superintendent from 1971 until retiring in 1978. He had joined the police force in 1948 as a patrolman.
After leaving the police department, he worked for Delaware County for the next seven years as director of the Police Mira-Code System, a central records retrieval system.
During his career, he attended numerous training sessions offered by the FBI, State Police and the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.
Before joining the police department, he worked as an electrician for the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corp. in Eddystone.
A lifelong resident of Ridley Township, he graduated from Ridley High School, where he played football and baseball.
He served as a gunner's mate in the Navy during World War II and was assigned for 27 months to the amphibious forces in the South Pacific and participated in the recapture of the Philippines.
Mr. McElwain was a member of the International, Pennsylvania, Southeast Pennsylvania and Delaware County Chiefs of Police Associations and served as president of the Delaware County unit in 1977.
He was also instrumental in creating the first police firing range in the county.
Mr. McElwain was a member of Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Milmont Park and the Men of Malvern, where he was recruiter of the Curran Memorial group.
He was also a member of the Ridley Township Oldtimers Association, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Dougherty McGee-Mazepink Post 639 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Woodlyn, the Milmont and Ridley Township Republican Clubs, and the Milmont Park and Woodlyn Fire Companies.
Mr. McElwain was predeceased by both of his children, Patrick E. and Eileen.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ann M. Martin McElwain, and a sister, Rose Friel.
Friends may call after 6:30 tonight and after 9:45 a.m. tomorrow at the James F. Knoetgen Funeral Home, 746 Kedron Ave., Morton. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Peace Church, Belmont and Milmont Avenues, Milmont Park. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Our Lady of Peace Church Memorial Fund, 501 Belmont Ave., Milmont Park, Pa. 19033, or St. Joseph's Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, Pa. 19031
