Ellen W. Dyson

Ellen W. Dyson (née Walker), born on October 5, 1932, in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., passed away peacefully on May 20, 2025, in Rockville, Maryland. She was 92 years old.

In 1954, Ellen married Stephen Potter Carney of New York. The couple initially settled in 29 Palms, California, before returning to Manhattan. Their son, Philip Donovan Carney, was born on March 19, 1958. The marriage later ended in divorce.

Ellen began her professional journey in the late 1950s on Wall Street, where she worked for a pioneering woman stockbroker. This early experience ignited her lifelong interest in investing and finance. In the mid-1960s, she returned to Washington, D.C. and made history as the first woman salesperson for General Fireproofing Corporation of Youngstown, Ohio. In this groundbreaking role, she sold office furniture to major government agencies—including the Pentagon—at a time when such positions were rarely held by women.

In 1966, Ellen married Frederick Clyde Dyson and the family settled in Hanover, Pennsylvania, where he served as Executive Vice President of Sales for Emeco Corporation. That same year marked the birth of their son Christopher William Dyson. Tragically, Frederick passed away in 1967 while Ellen was pregnant with their son Peter Frederick Dyson. She devoted herself fully to raising her three children during this challenging period.

From the mid-1960s through 1978, Ellen focused on family life before reentering the workforce as an Executive Assistant. She concluded her career at Calvert Investments, retiring in 1997 after serving as Executive Assistant to the CEO.

In June 1977, Ellen and her family relocated to Montgomery Village, Maryland. The move brought them closer to her mother Dorothy; her sister Jane; and her brother George. Ellen was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Parish in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Ellen is lovingly remembered by her sons: Philip D. Carney (Vicki Pelosi), Christopher W. Dyson (Matthew Fischer), and Pete Dyson (Amy Dyson); and two beloved grandchildren, Chad Dyson and Matt Dyson.

She was predeceased by her mother Dorothy C. Walker; Father George Alvin Walker Sr.; stepfather William St. Cyr Barrington; first husband Stephen Potter Carney; and second husband Frederick Clyde Dyson.

Beyond her professional accomplishments and family devotion, Ellen had a zest for life that was reflected in her many passions. Ellen will be remembered for her impeccable sense of class and style. A gourmet cook long before “foodie” became a household term, she was renowned for hosting elegant dinner parties and crafting exquisite baked goods. Her love of French cuisine was matched only by her affection for Paris—her favorite city and a place that captured her heart time and again. Ellen had a love for the ocean and cherished her time with family and friends on beach vacations in Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and later in life her favorite destination—Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. As her mobility declined over the years, her adventurous spirit remained undiminished; with the help of a wheelchair, she continued exploring beloved destinations including Washington, D.C., Annapolis, Savannah, Charleston, Asheville—and always Hilton Head.

Ellen’s legacy is one of strength, elegance, and pioneering spirit. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved her.

Services for Ellen will be private. She will be interred in the family plot at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.