Chandler Gillespie, Jr.

Chandler Gillespie, Jr, 70, went home to his Lord and Savior on Friday, December 14. Chandler was born in Bryn Mawr, PA, where he also raised his family. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, he spent 26 years in active and active reserve status with the U S Army before retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He also worked as membership director for the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce for 17 years and the Wichita Chamber of Commerce for 2 years as well as several other promotional sales positions. Since moving to Raleigh in 2000, he was an active member and on staff at Providence Baptist Church, shuttled cars for Avis and volunteered at two Christian ministries in Raleigh. He was very much a people person and never in his life seemed to know a stranger. He loved playing bridge, reading, and rooting for his beloved Oklahoma Sooners and Philadelphia Eagles. Visitation will be at the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh, Sunday from 3 - 5 PM. The funeral service will be 2 PM Monday at Providence Baptist Church on Glenwood Avenue with graveside service in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains he loved at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain on Tuesday. Chandler is survived by his wife Elaine; son Chandler Gillespie III and his wife Corrie Gillespie of Stuarts Draft, VA; son Bradford Gillespie and his wife Kelsey Gillespie of Wichita, KS; mother Elizabeth Gillespie of Gladwyne, PA; daughter Farida Strege and her husband Mark Strege currently in Ghana; brother Bruce Gillespie and his wife Gale Gillespie of Villanova, PA; and 7 grandchildren - Cory, Laura, Haley, Kara, Aiden, Andrew and Matthew. He was preceded in death by his father, Chandler Gillespie, and his sister Nancy Virginia Gillespie. Condolences may be made to www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Christian Library International, 3800A Hillcrest Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610 or Raleigh Rescue Mission, P O Box 27562, Raleigh, NC 27690.