Elwood Dockham

Mr. Elwood Dockham age 86 of Forest Park Drive, Denton, NC died Saturday, December 4 at his residence. Mr. Dockham was the father of State Representative Jerry C. Dockham of Davidson County. A funeral service for Mr. Dockham will be held at 3:00 PM Tuesday, December 7 at Central United Methodist Church conducted by Rev. Benny Clodfelter and Rev. Dr. Thomas Griffis. Burial will follow in the Denton Town Cemetery Mr. Dockham was born June 5, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pa. to Charles Hiram Dockham and Helen Chepica Dockham. Mr. Dockham had also lived in New Hampshire and Thomasville, before moving to Denton, NC in 1939. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church and the Denton Lions Club. He graduated from Denton High School in 1942 and entered the Army in January, 1943. In January 1944 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and received his Wings as a Pilot. He taught 6 classes of Cadets basic flying before going to India to fly with the 11th squadron of Combat Cargo. He spent 10 months flying 982 hours and 250 combat missions. He was awarded the North Burma and Central Burma Battle Stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters After his war service he attended Wake Forest College (now University) where he was a member of the varsity basketball and baseball teams. He worked with the US Postal Service for 32 and ½ years serving as Postmaster of the Denton, NC Post Office for 16 years. He was also an agent for Nationwide Insurance Company for many years until his son took over the agency. He had served as a member of the Denton Town Board and the Denton Zoning Board. He was inducted into the South Davidson Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He was preceded in death by a son Michael Dockham in 1992. Elwood is survived by his wife, Opal Coggin Dockham of the home, a son, Jerry C. Dockham and wife Louise Skeen Dockham of Denton, grandsons, Andrew Dockham and Matthew Dockham both of Washington, DC and a sister Evangeline Snider and husband Thurman Snider of.Locust The family will see friends Monday, Dec. 6 at Briggs Funeral Home in Denton from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, PO Box 126, Denton, NC 27239 Online condolences may be sent to www.briggsfuneralhome.com