Elwyn Cavin, 101, of Lake Charles, La., died peacefully at his home surrounded by family and caregivers on Jan. 7, 2022.

Dr. Cavin was born on July 28, 1920 in Natchez, Miss. to Malva and Earl Cavin.

He is survived by his three children, Elwyn C. Cavin (Catherine G. Cavin) of Crosby, Miss., Steven E. Cavin (Linda S. Cavin) of Lake Charles, La., and Jocelyn G. Macpherson (Charles E. Macpherson) of Greenville, S. C.; six grandchildren, Jason Cavin, Katy Cavin, Candice Barber (Frank Barber), Justin Lyman M.D., Crosby Lyman (Darla Lyman), and Patrick Lyman; three great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Dr. Cavin was preceded in death by his wife, Ollie Jewell Clifford Cavin; and by his sister, Kathleen Cavin Moore of Atlanta, Ga.

Elwyn graduated from high school in 1937 as valedictorian from Crosby High School located in Mississippi. He then attended and received his undergraduate  degree from LSU in June 1941. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he was called to active duty in the Army and after a year received his orders for the Pacific Theater of Operations. He reentered the US Army Medical Corp to serve during the Korean War.

After the war he was accepted to LSU Medical School and the University of Louisville. He chose Louisville because the program was accelerated. While there, he met Ollie Jewell Clifford, the love of his life, and they were married during his junior year of medical school. He continued his work and training in a Radiology Residency until 1953 where he was assigned to a large Army Hospital in Germany to continue the practice of Radiology. In 1956 he joined the Ochsner’s Clinic and was there two years before joining Dr. L.M. Warshaw in a private practice of Radiology in Lake Charles, La. He continued his Reserve training in the Army and was a Life Member of the American Legion, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Association of Uniform Services and The Military Officers Association. Elwyn continued in the Army Reserves and served at the 114th Evacuation Hospital located in New Orleans until 1984 where he retired as a Colonel.

Military awards include: Combat Infantry Badge Bronze Star Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon, three Bronze Star Service Stars, Philippine Liberation Army of Occupation, Japan Meritorious Service Medal. Later: Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Graduate of the Army Command General Staff College, and the Germany Army of Occupation Medal.

Elwyn was invited and attended the opening of the WWII Museum in New Orleans in 1999. He wore his WWII military uniform that still fit to the ceremonies and was later interviewed by CNN. He also was invited and attended the celebration in 2004 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for a tribute to WWII soldiers.

He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Louisiana State Medical Society, the Calcasieu Parish Medical Society, and the Louisiana Radiology Society, having served as its president. He was a member and Elder of the First Christian Church of Lake Charles and then a member of the First Baptist Church. Also, he was a member of the Masonic Order and Sons of the Confederate Veterans.

Community outreach included serving on the Board of Directors of Boys and Girls Villages, the Board of Directors of First Federal Bank of Louisiana, Board of Directors of the Lake Charles Country Club, and a life Member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army. He served as a member of the Calcasieu Parish School Board and served on The Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission. He was a member of the S.W. LA Historical Society for more than 40 years and also served as president.

Ollie and Elwyn enjoyed traveling, golfing, bridge, and ballroom dancing. They had been married for over 71 years. Elwyn and Ollie also loved visiting his homeplace in Mississippi where the family would gather for holidays to reunite each year.

The family would like to express our sincerest thanks to his caregivers Eugenie Tullos, Julie Parham, and Annette Thompson. The Heart of Hospice team members, especially La Shonda (Lil Bit), Kendee, Julie, and Katherine. Special thanks to Elwyns’s close friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Cormier, and Father Paul White for coming during a critical time.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army of Southwest Louisiana (3020 Legion Street Lake Charles, LA 70615), or to the charity of your choice.

Private graveside services will be held in Centreville, Miss., with Military Honors at Oaklawn Cemetery on Jan. 12, 2022 at 2 p.m.