Ellen Grace McDade Hull

Ellen Grace McDade Hull - May 2, 1945 - May 17, 2023 - Asheville, NC

Ellen passed away May 17, 2023 at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, NC after a valiant 4-year battle with cancer. She celebrated her 78th birthday May 2 with a smile, a smile that she wore throughout her life.

It was a life filled with music and love of nature. She loved opera. Handel, Verdi, Donizetti and Bellini were some of her favorite composers. She was also a talented musician, an interest that she acquired from her father, Everest McDade, a long time resident of Asheville who was an engineer, biologist, orchid grower and musician. Ellen and her father played flute in the Asheville Symphony in the early days when Asheville was a sleepy little town. She continued her interest in music throughout her life, learning to play the recorder and the viola da gamba with particular focus on Baroque and Renaissance music.

Ellen acquired her love of nature from her mother, Edith McDade. Edith loved all animals, wild and domestic. They were all God’s creatures. There was always a new dog or cat that showed up at her door or an injured wild bird to nurse back to health. Ellen carried that love forward into her life. One of her favorite pets was Squeaky the flying squirrel, who loved to curl up in Ellen’s hand.

Ellen was not all music and nature. She was also an electrical engineer (BSET University of Central Florida) and an extra class amateur radio operator, call sign W4DYW, which by the way was her father’s original call. During her bout with cancer, she enjoyed RV camping with her husband, Larry (W4LPH), participating in an international amateur radio program called Parks on the Air. Under that program she completed 21 state park activations and contacted 47 states throughout the US, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico and Europe.

It is hard to find the words to describe Ellen. She was a beautiful person - brilliant, sensitive, kind and loving. Larry was a very lucky man to be her husband. Had she lived, they would have celebrated 58 years of marriage May 28. He will never forget her and what she did for him and his life.

In addition to her husband Larry, Ellen leaves behind two sisters, Emily McKinney (Thurmond, NC) and Elissa Linke (Asheville, NC) and a brother, Evan McDade (Huntsville, AL). There will be a concert in Ellen’s honor at some future date.

Be at peace, dearest Ellen. All my love to you always - Larry.

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