Columbus, OH — Ollie Hayden Ervin, 92, of Chestertown, Md., died Aug. 18, 2021, at the Resorts at Chester River Manor in Chestertown.

He was born near Church Hill, Md., on June 23, 1929, the son of the late Thomas Nathaniel and Viola Everett Ervin, raised by Lula Kemp and Nathaniel Ervin.

Mr. Ervin was educated in Sudlersville and at the age of 13 he began farming with his father. When he turned 19, he began working with Mt. Pleasant Farm, where he worked on and off for his entire life.

Mr. Ervin was married to Betty Louise Leager on March 27, 1952. He managed Conquest Farm near Centreville for nine years before starting a career with Baltimore Business Forms in Chestertown, which later became Reynolds & Reynolds. He retired after 30 years.

Mr. Ervin’s true passion was Standardbred racing. His best horse, Jodi Lynn, won many stakes races. He got his first horse in 1976 and has raised and raced them ever since. He was very well known in the racing community and was a member of the U.S. Trotting Association.

Mr. Ervin loved farming, driving his tractor, and of course, horse racing.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; children, Roland, Kenneth, Rodney, Norman, and Lewis; and siblings, Gerry Cooper, Debbie Conley, Carolyn Chapman, Christine Brittingham, Nathanial, Betty Lou Register, and Henry; 15 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara Schauber; brothers, George, Bobby, Bill, Harry, James, Bradford, and Linwood; and sister, Virginia Dadds.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday (Aug. 25) at 11 a.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown, where relatives and friends may call the evening prior from 6–8 p.m. Interment will be in Crumpton Cemetery.