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In Memoriam | Winter 2022

In Memoriam: 1950s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Thomas Garland “Jack” Milstead Jr. (Col ’52 CM) of Lynchburg, Virginia, died Aug. 19, 2022. After completing Army ROTC training as an undergraduate at UVA, he served in the Korean War. Upon his return to Lynchburg, he joined his family’s mechanical engineering firm. In the late 1970s, he began a second career in the garment industry and retired in 2012. A lifelong UVA sports fan, he rarely missed home football games at Scott Stadium or basketball games at University Hall. A supporter of the Virginia Student Aid Foundation, he held season tickets for over 50 years. Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Laura; cousin Faye Wood Talley; four sons, including Thomas Garland Milstead III (Col ’84 CM) and James Ryan Mayo II (Col ’88); five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.


Nancy Twyman James (Nurs ’53) of Aurora, Colorado, died Feb. 27, 2022. She was born in Orange, Virginia.


I. Norman Sporn, M.D. (Col ’53 CM) of Richmond, Virginia, died June 2, 2022. While earning his bachelor’s degree at UVA, he was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, the glee club and the marching band. In 1957, he earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia. He practiced nephrology at Richmond Memorial Hospital and in his private practice for 30 years. He was an innovator in the development of the dialysis machine as well as in the procedures and techniques for treating chronic kidney disease. He was also a founding board member of the Virginia Holocaust Museum and program director of the 5400 Club at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center. Survivors include his second wife, Barbara Goldberg; two daughters, including Ellyn S. Butler (Col ’82) and her husband, Raymond S. Butler (Col ’81 CM); eight grandchildren, including Michelle L. Butler (Col ’14, Law ’17) and her husband, Sam Connor (Law ’20), and Scott M. Butler (Col ’12 CM) and his wife, Brittany Weitzel Butler (Col ’12); and nine great-grandchildren.


Edwin E. Gatewood Jr. (Col ’54, Law ’59 CM) of Charlottesville died Dec. 29, 2021. While studying economics at UVA, he was a member of the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, Corks & Curls and Army ROTC. He served in Korea as a second lieutenant in the Army Combat Engineers. After his military service, he returned to UVA to earn his law degree. He began a career in banking in Richmond before returning to Charlottesville with his family in 1973. He worked as a vice president and trust officer at Jefferson National Bank. In the late 1970s, he served on the Charlottesville City Council. He was also active in the Rotary Club of Charlottesville, the Richmond Jaycees and Big Brothers of America. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth, three children and four grandchildren.


William Harvey Hall (Col ’57 CM) of Oklahoma City died May 9, 2022. He earned his bachelor’s in biology at UVA before attending medical school at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and serving as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1963. He became an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arkansas Medical Center and an associate professor of medicine and professor emeritus at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. In 1977, he opened a clinical practice of gastroenterology that he maintained until his retirement in 2004. A classical music enthusiast, he loved singing in his church choir. Survivors include his wife, Minna, three children and eight grandchildren.


Dr. Carlos “Carl” Ray Ayers (Med ’58, Intern ’59, Res ’64) of Charlottesville died July 26, 2022. Growing up on his family’s farm in West Virginia, he dreamed of becoming a doctor. In 1958, he graduated from the University of Virginia Medical School, where he also completed his internship and residency. He worked at the University from 1964 to 2010 as a physician, cardiologist and professor of medicine. Throughout his career, he focused on cardiovascular health and developed a clinic for the research and treatment of high cholesterol and hypertension. After retirement, he was named a professor emeritus at UVA and continued to practice medicine for eight more years at the Charlottesville Free Clinic. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Mary Jo Ayers (Educ ’66); three children, including Steven Ayers (Educ ’94); and five grandchildren.


James William “Jim” Keyser Sr. (Educ ’58) of Abingdon, Virginia, died July 2, 2021. While at UVA, he played football and, in 1957, received an award for top lineman in Virginia. He was also a member of Eli Banana and the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He went on to play football professionally for the Montreal Alouettes. A longtime Sears employee, he retired after 35 years. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Mildred, a son, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.


Herbert Davis (Law ’59) of Wilmington, Delaware, died Feb. 4, 2022. After graduating from Duquesne University in 1951, he served stateside in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He earned his law degree from UVA in 1959 and began his career as a corporate attorney. He worked for Dow Chemical, Gulf Oil and Chevron. During retirement, he spent time with his wife, Barbara, who predeceased him. He was also an avid reader, listener of classical and jazz music, and devoted grandfather. He is survived by two children, including Eric Davis (Col ’85 CM), and four grandchildren.