Elam, Robert Kilby

Title

Elam, Robert Kilby

Last Name

Elam

First and Middle Name

Robert Kilby

Biographical Text

Robert Kilby Elam (“Kilby” or “Uncle Bill”) was born on October 28th, 1894 in Suffolk County, Nansemond, Virginia to the parents of Hilary Edward Elam and Lilian Lee Kilby Elam. He attended VPI (Virginia Tech), according to The Bugle (annual), Robert was a private in Company E. In 1917 and participated in multiple clubs: Planter’s club, Class Football, and Ending’s Hell Cats. Robert graduated VPI with a major in Agriculture and in the same year trained at First Fort Myer Camp in Arlington, Virginia. He was then drafted and served in the Infantry. After the war, Robert married Lillian Rose Rankin in 1920 and together had two children, Robert K. Elam and Elizabeth C. Elam. He was drafted again in 1942, for WWII, ending his military career as a Second Lieutenant. Robert worked in the Real Estate business as a Rent Solicitor in Richmond, Virginia. He died in Richmond, Virginia due to a heart attack on November 15th, 1985 and was buried at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Nicknames or Other Names

"Kilby" & "Uncle Bill"

Hometown

Nansemond, Virginia

County and/or State

Suffolk County

Birth Date

October 28th, 1894

Birthplace

Suffolk, VA

Death Date

November 15th, 1985
4:45 AM

Cause of Death

Heart Attack

Place of Death

Richmond, VA - The Windsor
Buried - Mt. Calvary Cemetery

Parents

Father - Hilary Edward Elam
Mother - Lilian (Lelian) Lee Kilby

Siblings

N/A

Spouse(s)

Lillian Rose Rankin
Married - December 7th, 1920
Age 26

Children

Robert K. Elam (son)
Elizabeth C. Elam (daughter)

VPI Graduating Class

1917

Undergraduate Major

Agriculture

Graduated

Yes

Service Branch

Reserve Officers

Unit

Infantry

Retired Rank

Second Lieutenant

Military Events

1913-1914 VPI rank - Private, Company E
Training May 1917 - First Fort Myer Camp
Drafted for WWII in 1942

Decorations or Citations

N/A

Battles or Engagements

N/A

Postwar Life

Returned home to Nansemond, VA until moving to Richmond, VA

Occupation

Rent solicitor in Richmond, VA for Pollard & Bagby Inc. (Real Estate)

1927 "Virginia Polytehnic Institute in the World War" booklet

Yes
Page 116 & 155

Additional Notes

Participation in School Activities & Clubs - Planters Club, Class Football (1916), Anding's Hell Cats

Files

Robert Kilby Elam from the 1917 Bugle (2).jpg
Robert Kilby Elam from the 1917 Bugle (3).jpg
Robert Kilby Elam from the 1917 Bugle.jpg
The Bugle Company E .jpg
VE Death Records 1985.jpg
WWII Draft Registration Card.jpg
WWII Draft Registration Card (2).jpg
WWI Draft Registration Card .jpg
WWI Draft Registration Cards 1918.jpg

Collection

Citation

“Elam, Robert Kilby,” VPI in World War I, accessed March 29, 2024, http://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/items/show/108.

Output Formats

Comments (if you have information about a veteran or would like to talk about a veteran, also email the project director Daniel Newcomb at danieln1@vt.edu with your information or question)

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