Longtime ODU Supporter Wells Gresham Dies; Memorial Service Is March 11

Wells Gresham, 88, of Norfolk, a longtime supporter of Old Dominion University, died Tuesday, March 8, 2011, in The Hoy Center of Westminster Canterbury.

A private burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery will be followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, at Talbot Park Baptist Church.

Born in Norfolk, Gresham was the son of the late Earl Thomas "E.T." Gresham Sr. and Kathryne Wells Gresham. He was also predeceased by his brother, Earl T. Gresham Jr.

Gresham was a graduate of Maury High School, class of 1940, and attended the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary-VPI (now Old Dominion University), class of 1942, and the University of Virginia.

A former director of the ODU Alumni Association, Gresham served as a president of the Norfolk Division Alumni Chapter and as chairman of the campaign for the extension of ODU's Williamsburg Wall along Hampton Boulevard. The conference room in the Kornblau Alumni Center was named for Gresham and his wife, Jane M. Gresham, who taught physical education at the Norfolk Division.

After serving in the Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, Gresham began working full time at E.T. Gresham Co. Inc., where he remained until his retirement in 1989 as executive vice president. He was an active member of the Norfolk Rotary Club, having served in all offices, until his health prevented him from participating. He later was made an honorary member.

Gresham served as a director of the Boys Club of Norfolk and was a member of Talbot Park Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jane McMurran Gresham; his two children, Stephen Wells Gresham of Washington, D.C., and Kathryne Gresham Dungan of Virginia Beach; and his four grandsons, Christopher Gresham, Jameson Dungan, Justin Dungan and Jordan Dungan.

H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk Chapel, is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be offered to the family through hdoliver.com.