Elizabeth McClintock Calder Wyche

Elizabeth Calder Wyche, 102, died Jan. 29, 2020, at Lower Cape Fear Life Care Center in Whiteville, NC. She was born Aug. 26, 1917, the daughter of the late Duncan Graham and Margaret Belle McClintock Calder of Charlotte, NC, and was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph T. Wyche MD of Whiteville. Elizabeth was a graduate of Central High School and of Queens College in Charlotte, and taught English and coached basketballin Stanley and Mecklenburg counties before marrying Dr. J.T. Wyche of Hallsboro, NC, in 1942. Following her husband’s service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, they lived in Hallsboro and she was a member of Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church. In 1954 they moved to Whiteville where Dr. Wyche’s practice was located. She became a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Whiteville, where she was an Elder and a member and teacher in the Presbyterian Women’s Circles. She was active in many community organizations, including serving on the Whiteville City Board of Education and local scholarship committees, being a charter member of the Lake Waccamaw Book Club, president of the Columbus County Medical Society Auxiliary, president of the Whiteville Garden Club, president of the Horizon Book Club, a Den Mother in the Cub Scouts of America, and portraying one of the sisters in the Columbus County Theatre Association production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Her hobbies included reading, knitting and gardening.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. Duncan Graham Calder Jr.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Susan Rankin (James) and Margaret Mullen (James); and 10 nieces and nephews.

Survivors include daughter Charlotte Wyche Kort (John McDowell) of Columbus, OH; sons, Byron Calder Wyche (Helen) of Norwood, MA, Alexander Thomas Wyche (Rhonda) of Taos, NM, Richard McClintock Wyche (Margaret) of Charlotte, NC, and Frank Hunter Wyche (Elaine) of Sparta, NC; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; a sister-in-law, Melba Wyche (Ray) of Whiteville; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 7, at 1:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 307 S. Franklin St., Whiteville, conducted by the Rev. Mark Fisher, with the family receiving visitors afterward. Memorials may be made to the Joseph T. and Elizabeth C. Wyche Scholarship at Southeastern Community College, 4564 Chadbourn Hwy., P.O. Box 151, Whiteville NC 28472; Families First Inc., P.O. Box 1776, 121 W. Main St., Whiteville NC 28472; or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (formerly Lower Cape Fear Hospice), 206 Warrior Trail Rd., Whiteville NC 28472.

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