Charles Harvey Ely age 78 of Dryden, VA was born Thursday, November 4, 1937 in Pennington Gap, VA and passed away Friday, October 28, 2016 at the Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, TN. Master Sergeant Ely retired from the United States Air Force and was a VFW Commander. During the 27 years Msgt. Ely served his county, many honors were bestowed upon him; combat weapons instructor, U.S. Air Marshall, U.S. Customs Inspector, and superintendent of Base Police at the Myrtle Beach, A.F.B. S.C. Mr. Ely served at numerous stateside Air Force bases and overseas, active in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam Conflict and other global conflicts. He was decorated with 3 Presidential Outstanding Unit awards and degreed from Eastern Washington State and the FBI Academy of Langley, VA. His final honor was being commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel on the 8th of March 2016. He was preceded in death by his first wife Barbara Ely , son Michael Ely, parents George and Hazel Ely, one sister Vernell Ely and one brother. Joe Ely. Charles is survived by his wife Linda Ely of the home, one son Tony Ely of Myrtle Beach, SC, two daughters Donna Ely Rees and husband, Al, Beverly Ely Smith and husband, Bobby all of Goldsboro, NC, four grandchildren Vangie Combs, Amber Lund, Haley Ely and Brodie Smith, two great-grandchildren Joseph Lund and Caroline Ely, two step-children Shawn Allen and Krista Wolfe, four step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren, five brothers Hubert Ely, Harold Ely, Bill Ely, Jimmy Ely, Darrell Ely and one sister Bernita Ewing. Special thanks: nephew Bruce Ely and Kathy Neal. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM Tuesday until the time of the service. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the Province Funeral Home Sanctuary in Pennington Gap, VA with Mark Tabor and Shawn Allen officiating. Burial will follow at the Powell Valley Cemetery in Dryden, VA Military Rites will be conducted by Shaw Air Force Base and the Local VFW. Memorials and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.provincefuneralhome.com Province Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the family of Charles Harvey Ely. Service Information Visitation Tuesday November 1, 2016 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Province Pennington Gap Funeral Home 42098 East Morgan Ave Pennington Gap, VA 24277 Funeral Service Tuesday November 1, 2016 12:00 PM Province Pennington Gap Funeral Home 42098 East Morgan Ave Pennington Gap, VA 24277 Military Honors Following Service Tuesday November 1, 2016 Powell Valley Cemetery Old Dryden Rd. Dryden, VA 24243