| William P. McKelway |
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Wednesday, February 10, 2010
William P. McKelway, 87, a Washington obstetrician and a clinical professor at George
Washington University Hospital, died Jan. 31 at Sibley Memorial Hospital's Grand Oaks
assisted-living home. He had kidney disease and congestive heart failure.
Dr. McKelway, a District resident, was on the staff at George Washington University Hospital
until helping start Foxhall OB-GYN Associates in the mid-1960s. He continued working as a
clinical professor at the hospital for many years and retired from his practice in the mid-1990s.
In the early 1960s, he had been part of a medical team that traveled to American Indian
reservations in the West to provide medical care.
William Prentiss McKelway was born in Washington to a family that held prominent positions
in journalism and the Presbyterian Church. His father, Benjamin M. McKelway, was editor of
the old Washington Star newspaper and president of the Associated Press.
Dr. McKelway was a graduate of the former Central High School and a 1943 graduate of
Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. He was in the Navy during World War II
and participated in the Normandy invasion and also served in the Pacific theater.
He graduated from George Washington University medical school in 1950 and completed his
residency at George Washington University Hospital in 1954.
His memberships included the Chevy Chase Club, the Metropolitan Club and the Alfalfa Club,
an elite social organization.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Elisabeth Locher McKelway of the Grand Oaks
facility; five children, William P. McKelway Jr. of Richmond, Martha Stringer of Clarksburg,
Dr. David A. McKelway of Oakland, Maine, Margaret Clark of Chevy Chase and WJLA
(Channel 7) reporter Douglas B. McKelway of Falls Church; 13 grandchildren; and one
great-grandson.
-- Adam Bernstein
William P. McKelway, 87, a Washington obstetrician and a clinical professor at George
Washington University Hospital, died Jan. 31 at Sibley Memorial Hospital's Grand Oaks
assisted-living home. He had kidney disease and congestive heart failure.
Dr. McKelway, a District resident, was on the staff at George Washington University Hospital
until helping start Foxhall OB-GYN Associates in the mid-1960s. He continued working as a
clinical professor at the hospital for many years and retired from his practice in the mid-1990s.
In the early 1960s, he had been part of a medical team that traveled to American Indian
reservations in the West to provide medical care.
William Prentiss McKelway was born in Washington to a family that held prominent positions
in journalism and the Presbyterian Church. His father, Benjamin M. McKelway, was editor of
the old Washington Star newspaper and president of the Associated Press.
Dr. McKelway was a graduate of the former Central High School and a 1943 graduate of
Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. He was in the Navy during World War II
and participated in the Normandy invasion and also served in the Pacific theater.
He graduated from George Washington University medical school in 1950 and completed his
residency at George Washington University Hospital in 1954.
His memberships included the Chevy Chase Club, the Metropolitan Club and the Alfalfa Club,
an elite social organization.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Elisabeth Locher McKelway of the Grand Oaks
facility; five children, William P. McKelway Jr. of Richmond, Martha Stringer of Clarksburg,
Dr. David A. McKelway of Oakland, Maine, Margaret Clark of Chevy Chase and WJLA
(Channel 7) reporter Douglas B. McKelway of Falls Church; 13 grandchildren; and one
great-grandson.
-- Adam Bernstein