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Notice regarding Edwin H. Rhyne

Provost Michael R. Halleran sent the following message to the campus community July 17, 2015. - Ed.

Dear colleagues,

I want to share the news that Edwin H. Rhyne, Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, died July 10, 2015, after a long illness.

Professor Rhyne was born in Hickory, N.C., in 1928 and raised in Clemson, S.C.  He received a bachelor of science degree from Clemson College and a Master’s and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of North Carolina.  He joined the faculty of William & Mary in 1954 and spent his career as a professor in the Department of Sociology.  Kate Slevin, Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, remembers Ed as a thoughtful scholar and a very kind colleague.  At the time of his retirement in 1999, he was the longest-serving faculty member in the history of the college. 

Professor Rhyne was married to Laura Gem Holmes of Adel, Ga., from 1952 until her death in 1991.  He married Gwynn Prideaux of Richmond in 1999.  He is survived by his wife Gwynn Prideaux, sisters Dorothy Blyth and Emma Lee Patterson, daughters Elisabeth, Rebecca and Megan Rhyne, sons-in law Jim Coates and Mike Parker, grandchildren Daniel, Eleanor and Gordon Coates and Dellinger Parker, and great-grandson Simon Coates.  He is also survived by his step-sons Jeff and Paul Prideaux and their families.

A reception will be held at Bucktrout Funeral Home on Saturday, July 18 at 4:30 p.m., and a memorial service at William & Mary's Wren Chapel on Sunday, July 19, at 3:30 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, P.O. Box 2576, Williamsburg VA 23187.

Sincerely,

Michael