1933
The Rev. Dr. Robert Wright Spears, Feb. 10, 2015, Canton, N.C. At the time of his death, Spears was Wofford’s oldest living graduate at the age of 102. Spears was a United Methodist minister and served as president of Columbia College. He retired to Lake Junaluska in 1977 and was a well-loved pillar of the community, raising money for Alzheimer’s research, the United Way and other charitable organizations. His most recent contribution to society was the Annual Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, which brings national and international scholars and activist together. Visit honoringdrspears.com for more information.
1942
Henry Grady Culbertson Jr., Dec. 17, 2014, Florence, S.C. Culbertson died on the morning of his 94th birthday. He served in the Army during World War II, eventually as a pilot with the 15th Air Force operating out of southern Italy. After the war Culbertson flew with the National Guard and enjoyed a career in textile management.
1944
Reed C. Patrick, Feb. 5, 2015, Virginia Beach, Va. A WWII C-47 pilot, Patrick retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. Afterward he ran several businesses including an Arby’s and a drive-in theater.
1945
The Rev. Edward Laney Davidson, Feb. 26, 2015, Cheraw, S.C. Ordained in the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, Davidson served nine churches in the state before his retirement. He was an annual conference trustee and a member of the boards of missions, evangelism and health and welfare ministries. He was a renowned marksman, sportsman and outdoorsman.
1947
Theron Earle Montgomery, Feb. 10, 2015, Jacksonville, Ala. Montgomery retired as president of Jacksonville State University in 1986. He was known for the special interest he took in students, and the student’s commons facility at the university is named in his honor. Montgomery was a World War II veteran.
1948
Wilmer A. Sims Jr., July 17, 2014, Greensboro, N.C.
1949
Guy Franklin Fain Jr., Jan. 24, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. Fain played the cornet in the Wofford College band and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He retired as department manager at Belk in Lenoir, N.C., after a long career in retail.
1950
The Rev. Carl Douglas Clary, Feb. 14, 2015, Chapin, S.C. A beloved pastor who served 10 churches, Clary served on the board of trustees of Columbia College and was a U.S. Air Force Reserve chaplain for 20 years.
1951
Philip Francis Foster, Jan. 14, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. A member of Kappa Alpha fraternity at Wofford, Foster served in the South Carolina National Guard. He was in the paper and plastics business when he joined his wife in Sally Foster Gift Wrap. Foster was a founding member of the Spartanburg Sertoma Club and well known for his sense of humor and well-told jokes.
Charles W. Webb Jr., Oct. 30, 2014, Knoxville, Tenn. Webb played for the 1947, 1948 and 1949 Terriers under coach Phil Dickens. He worked for 35 years at Bell South.
1952
Benjamin Ernest “Ernie” Branch, Feb. 10, 2015, Greenville, S.C. A Korean War veteran, Branch was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, where he taught Sunday school.
1955
Samuel “Sam” Rufus Glenn Jr., Jan. 8, 2015, Connestee Falls, N.C. Glenn was a senior class president at Wofford and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He served in the Navy before beginning a career that included banking, health care administration and real estate.
1957
Thomas Marion Godbold Jr., Jan. 10, 2015, Chico, Calif. Godbold was a retired educator.
1958
Thomas N. Arledge, Nov. 19, 2014, Spartanburg, S.C. A U.S. Army veteran, Arledge retired from Hoechst Celanese. An all-around athlete, he played football at Wofford.
James Richard “Dickie” Corbin Sr., Jan. 21, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. Corbin served in the U.S. Navy and retired from Kohler Co. after 41 years.
Lt. Col. John M. Hammett, Jan. 14, 2015, Chesnee, S.C. Hammett served in the Korean War and was stationed in Panama and Puerto Rico. He was commander of the Spartanburg chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association and retired from the 1st Army, 108th division. Hammett also was a retired educator, having served as a teacher, principal and transportation director. He also served as governor of Ruritan National.
John R. Roddy, Nov. 5, 2014, Cross Hill, S.C. Roddy was a U.S. Army veteran. He retired as secretary-treasurer for Jackson Mills after 40 years of service then went back to work with Sandy Springs Electrical for another 15 years.
1959
Thomas Harold DeWitt, Feb. 11, 2015, Simpsonville, S.C. A U.S. Navy Korean War veteran, DeWitt was actively involved in ministry, including Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse and various prison ministries. He retired as a purchasing agent from Greenwood Mills in Orangeburg, S.C., after 25 years of service.
1961
Donald Ted Wilson Sr., Nov. 21, 2014, Easley, S.C. Wilson retired from Perrigo Pharmaceutical Co. As a student he played on the Wofford football team.
1963
James Rufus Pruitt Jr., Feb. 10, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. Pruitt retired from Greer Memorial Hospital and Spartanburg Regional Restorative Care.
1964
Samuel P. Bigger Jr., Feb. 14, 2015, Anderson, S.C. After retirement from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, Bigger enjoyed fishing and delivering auto parts for Ralph Hayes Motors.
Nicholas Harry Kekas, Jan. 6, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. Kekas was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at Wofford before transferring to Clemson University. He was the first chairman of the Spartanburg Greek Festival and the former president of Corinthian Mills Inc.
1965
Edward Mark Brown, Jan. 1, 2015, Atlanta, Ga. A 20-year veteran of the U.S. Marines, Brown retired from The Coca-Cola Co. in 1999. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Transition House, Hospice Care and the Georgia Aquarium.
1968
Harold W. Aitken, Nov. 4, 2014, Rock Hill, S.C. Aitken retired from Atotech with more than 30 years of service. He loved playing golf.
Ralph B. Ferguson, Jan. 14, 2015, Round Rock, Texas. Ferguson worked with DuPont before starting his own company.
1969
Ronald Allen Siltzer, Dec. 4, 2014, Boiling Springs, S.C. Siltzer retired from Spartanburg Technical College, where he was a faculty member for 34 years.
1970
James Carmen Davis, Dec. 22, 2014, Conway, S.C. During his career he served as a science teacher, worked at Waccamaw Frame Gallery and owned and operated Baxter Forks Landscaping and Jim’s Tree Service. He retired from the Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel.
C. Insley Owings II, Dec. 12, 2014, Daytona Beach, Fla. Owings piloted rotary and fixed-wing aircraft in the U.S. Army before working for Central Piedmont Community College, Eastern Airlines and finally the Daytona Raceway at his retirement.
1972
Michael Wayne Meredith, Dec. 7, 2014, York, S.C.
1973
Peter Scott Sperka, Jan. 3, 2015, Tryon, N.C. Sperka spent two years in the U.S. Army before graduating from Wofford. He formerly worked at Wofford College.
1974
Lawrence Glenn Hardin, Nov. 4, 2014, Columbia, S.C. Hardin volunteered for service during the Vietnam War. His military service was followed by a career as a computer programmer.
Jerry Kenney Wood, Jan. 27, 2015, Boiling Springs, S.C. Wood was a U.S. Navy veteran.
1982
Timothy Lee Cantrell, Nov. 14, 2014, Spartanburg, S.C. Cantrell was the founder of C.T.M.I. of Spartanburg.
Stephen Millus Howell, Jan. 15, 2015, Georgetown, S.C. Howell was the owner of the former Shabby’s of Pawley’s Island and was a general manager of Land’s End Restaurant.
1983
Timothy Leo Brady, Feb. 15, 2015, Charlotte, N.C. Brady was a manufacturing representative and the owner of Brady Sales.
Dr. Karen Sonja Jenks Brewer, Oct. 24, 2014, Blacksburg, Va. A professor of organic chemistry in the Department of Chemistry in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, Brewer earned the 2010 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Innovator Award because of her work on light-activated cancer therapy. She was a strong advocate for women and minorities in chemistry and served as a role model and mentor for many.
1986
Pamela Plotkin Ponder, Oct. 15, 2014, Acworth, Ga. Ponder enjoyed a career in kitchen design, working for Lehman Architectural Woodworks then starting a family business with her husband specializing in custom millwork and cabinetry. Her kitchen designs twice won first place in Atlanta Remodeling Magazine.
The Rev. Dr. Mickey Shealy, Oct. 30, 2014, Dalton, Ga. Shealy was serving as the pastor of ChristChurch Presbyterian Church in Dalton at the time of his death. He played football for the Terriers and after graduation attended Columbia Theological Seminary, graduating with a M.Div. in 1999. He earned his doctorate of ministry from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in 2008.
1992
Tracey Lyn Stephenson, Oct. 17, 2014, St. Petersburg, Fla.
1993
Walter Carlisle “Trey” Kannaday III, Jan. 15, 2015, Columbia, S.C. Kannaday was an attorney, certified public accountant, certified internal auditor, certified treasury professional and was employed by the state of South Carolina for many years. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Order as a Wofford student and served on Campus Union and the Interfraternity Council.
Christie Weston “Chris” Winkler Jr., Feb. 15, 2015, Anderson, S.C. A member of Sigma Nu fraternity, an avid adventurer and an outdoorsman, Winkler hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.
FRIENDS
Bobby Ivey, Dec. 15, 2014, Spartanburg, S.C. Ivey was a longtime friend of Wofford Athletics and the college’s basketball program. The proprietor of Bobby Ivey Construction and Realty, Ivey served on the board of trustees at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for more than 14 years. He also served his country in the U.S. Air Force. “Bobby was one of our most faithful and devoted fans,” wrote Wofford Athletics Director Richard Johnson after Ivey’s death. “He adopted Wofford, and he and his lovely wife, Jean, attended every athletic event that they could and opened their home to generations of Wofford students.… Bobby was one of a kind.”