1943
Robert Leo “Bob” Allen, March 10, 2020, Gastonia, N.C. Allen served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II before enjoying a 40-year career with Southern Bell.
1945
James Millard Hart Sr., Feb. 28, 2020, Inman, S.C. Hart began his career with the South Carolina Highway Patrol before spending 30 years with State Farm and retiring as a claims superintendent. At 75, he pursued another career in law enforcement by applying for a position with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. He passed the physical fitness test before his wife enlisted their five children to talk him out of the pursuit.
1949
James Edwin “Ed” Zimmerman, Feb. 25, 2020, Spartanburg, S.C. Zimmerman worked 33 years with Citizens and Southern National Bank and retired as a vice president and senior trust officer. He was a founding member of Morningside Baptist Church and was active with the Downtown Sertoma Club, Total Ministries and Meals on Wheels.
1950
The Rev. Harold Walter Syfrett, April, 13, 2020, Walterboro, S.C. Syfrett served the South Carolina Baptist Convention for more than 30 years. He was instrumental in starting Bethany and Cudd Memorial Baptist churches in Spartanburg. He served as a U.S. Navy chaplain during World War II before enrolling at Wofford.
1951
The Rev. Joe Kirkpatrick Brown Sr., April 13, 2020, Fayetteville, Ga. He served as minister in the United Methodist Church and was an associate dean of students at Spartanburg Methodist College. He also was active with prison ministries and education programs. He was an avid golfer.
1952
Harmon Burgess Sprott Jr., Feb. 5, 2020, Manning, S.C. Sprott served in the U.S. Air Force and spent most of his career with Sprott Oil Co.
1954
Edwin Rushing “Pete” Johnson, Jan. 2, 2020, Albemarle, N.C. Johnson served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before spending 40 years working in banking. He retired from Wachovia.
1955
Robert Norris Head, Feb. 26, 2020, Valdese, N.C. Head served in the U.S. Army before working many years as an industrial engineer. He was an avid gardener and woodcarver, and he enjoyed the outdoors.
Paul Switzer Kent, March 16, 2020, West Columbia, S.C. Kent served 20 years in the U.S. Army before retiring as a major. He also retired from the William J. Bryan Dorn VA Hospital in 1996. He was a member of Lexington Baptist Church and the Elizabeth Sessions Sunday School Class for 44 years. He enjoyed participating in mission work, including time in Kenya.
1957
Dr. Martin “Lee” Mays, April 4, 2020, Camden, S.C. Mays served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force and practiced dentistry in Evreux, France, before being discharged. He returned home and ran his dental practice for 50 years. His nickname was “Painless.” He was a longtime member of Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church.
1958
John Robert Brown, Feb. 14, 2020, Chapel Hill, N.C. Brown worked in pharmaceutical sales with Mead Johnson for 38 years. He was an avid Terriers fan.
The Rev. John Christopher Detwiler, Feb. 25, 2020, Durham, N.C. Detwiler was a chaplain and marriage and family counselor at Duke Medical Center. He was a lifelong member of Shandon United Methodist Church in Columbia, S.C.
Dr. Robert William “Bob” Hart III, March 15, 2020, Hickory, N.C. Hart delivered hundreds of babies in Catawba County, and he enjoyed sharing his passion for history with many, including thousands of students visiting Hart Square Village, a wildlife preserve owned by his family in Vale, N.C. The village includes early American antiques and log buildings.
Frank Carroll Stanton Sr., March 8, 2020, North Augusta, S.C. Stanton served in the U.S. Army and was a Korean War veteran. After college, he founded IndChem Inc., a distributor of industrial chemicals in Savannah, Ga. He was a founding member of Skidaway Island United Methodist Church in Savannah and served on the board of directors for many civic organizations before returning to his hometown of North Augusta for retirement.
James Kendree “Ken” Williams Jr., March 6, 2020, Ruther Glen, Va. Williams was a retired U.S. Navy commander and a member of several military and computer science societies. His family requested memorials be made to Wofford College.
1959
Marvin Humbert O’Neal Jr., Feb. 23, 2020, Bluffton, S.C. O’Neal was a chemistry teacher for 40 years while also owning and operating Educational Computer Services in Camden, S.C., for 20 years. He served on and chaired several boards in Kershaw County, including the YMCA, chamber of commerce and the fine arts center. He enjoyed aviation, skiing and sailing.
Dallas Gene Parker, Feb. 15, 2020, Central Pacolet, S.C. Parker worked with Kohler Co. for more than 30 years.
1960
Col. Irvin Schenck Butler Jr., April 7, 2020, Columbia, S.C. Butler served in the U.S. Army. He received numerous awards for his service, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Cross of Gallantry and the General Staff ID Badge.
Charles Paul Jones Sr., April 25, 2020, Knoxville, Tenn. A U.S. Army veteran, Jones played quarterback for the Terriers for four years. He retired from Dempster Brothers and was the former owner of McGhee’s Irish Pub and the Varsity Inn in Knoxville.
1962
Lewis Ware “Lew” Flint, March 1, 2020, Spartanburg, S.C. Flint served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years before retiring as a commander. He was a Vietnam War veteran.
John H. Sitton, March 28, 2020, Charlotte, N.C. He served as president of Tres Computer Concepts for many years and moved the business from Greensboro, N.C., to Charlotte.
1964
James Andrew “Jim” Neal, March 14, 2020, West Columbia, S.C. Neal dedicated his career to public health. He began work with the South Carolina State Board of Health with its communicable disease section before spending 28 years with the South Carolina Commission on Alcoholism. He received many state and national awards for his work. An award for outstanding service is named in his honor. He wrote books on the history of treating alcohol and drug abuse in South Carolina as well as on United Methodist churches in the state and churches burned during the American Revolution.
John Hartford Smith, Feb. 20, 2020, Little River, S.C. Smith worked as a manager with Milliken and Co., and he was a vice president with Butte Knit in Spartanburg before owning and operating Green Street Minimart in Laurens, S.C. He was an avid sailor and member of the Long Bay Sailing Association.
1965
Roger Wayne Dorn, Jan. 29, 2020, Florence, S.C. Dorn served in the U.S. Army and retired as the editor of a business journal. He also worked with Dilmar Oil Co.
Reaves Ham Gasque, April 22, 2020, Marion, S.C. Gasque retired from the insurance business. He was an active member of Marion First United Methodist Church and an avid runner for many years. Completing marathons were some of his proudest accomplishments.
James Gilliam “Jim” Westmoreland Sr., March 7, 2020, Isle of Palms, S.C. Westmoreland had a 35-year career as a computer systems manager. In his spare time, he enjoyed sailing, golf and tennis.
1966
William Byrd “Willie” Harrison, April 5, 2020, Alachua, Fla. Harrison retired from the U.S. Army as a chief warrant officer 4. He served two tours in Vietnam, one in the UH-1 Huey helicopter with the “Cowboys” 335 AHC in support of the 173rd Airborne. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Air Medal.
1967
David Lomax Hart, April 2, 2020, Tryon, N.C. Hart served in the U.S. Army before spending 34 years with Duke Energy in various levels of management. He volunteered with numerous civic organizations over the years.
1969
Robert G. “Bob” McCurdy, March 27, 2020, Norristown, Pa. McCurdy was a principal with McCurdy & Associates. He served in the U.S. Army and worked as a lieutenant in the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in Texas. He enjoyed golf and woodworking.
1970
Jack C. Graves, Feb. 18, 2020, Ware Shoals, S.C. Graves spent 28 years working in education, including service as principal at Ware Shoals Junior High School. He also spent 14 years working in retail management and was a dedicated volunteer at the Museum and Railroad Historical Center in Greenwood.
Benjamin Thomas “Ben” Linder, May 3, 2020, West Columbia, S.C. Linder worked in international textile marketing.
1974
Thomas Whitfield “Tommy” Dunaway III, April 16, 2020, Anderson, S.C. Dunaway practiced law for 35 years and served 33 years on Anderson City Council. He was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church and served as a trustee and on the church’s administrative board. Dunaway received many awards and appointments during his career.
1975
The Rev. Dr. Robert Norris Burkins Sr., May 1, 2020, Simpsonville, S.C. Burkins earned a master of divinity degree in biblical studies and languages from the Interdenominational Theological Center and a doctor of divinity degree from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary. He served nearly 40 years as a pastor and counselor in Florida and New Jersey, and most recently in Greenville, S.C. He was passionate about his work for the church and community.
1983
George William Yarbrough III, April 10, 2020, Hartsville, S.C. Yarbrough retired from the South Carolina Tax Commission. His family requested memorials to be made to Wofford College.
1986
David Allen Nelson, March 6, 2020, Charlotte, N.C. Nelson was a loyal employee at Maintenance Supply Co. He led his high school team to its first state championship in North Carolina before joining the Terriers. Even after graduation he enjoyed playing, coaching and watching basketball. He was an avid golfer and was known for sharing “pearls of wisdom” with family and friends. He was in declining health for the past several years.
1996
Kristi Walvoord Cripps, March 29, 2020, Chapin, S.C. Cripps worked in advertising before staying home with her three daughters. Once the girls were older, she started teaching preschool at Union United Methodist Church. She enjoyed sunset boat rides, watching sunrises from her deck, caring for orchids and collecting pieces for her Christmas village.
2011
Michael Anthony Scott, April 21, 2020, Atlanta, Ga. Scott died at the Emory Transplant Center after a battle with liver and kidney failure. Scott was a star running back for the Terriers. He was also a friend to many.
FRIENDS
Dr. Frances Robicsek, April 3, 2020, Charlotte, N.C. Robicsek fled his native Hungary in 1956 before settling in Charlotte and becoming a world-renowned cardiac surgeon. He was one of the first physicians to perform heart bypass operations in the 1950s at Carolinas Medical Center and performed the hospital’s first heart transplant in 1986. He founded the Sanger Clinic, now Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, and spent more than 50 years advancing cardiac care. Robicsek and his wife, Lilly, had been renowned art collectors for decades, sharing pieces from their impressive collection with the Mint Museum in Charlotte. They have donated many works to Wofford’s Fine Arts Collection, including Hungarian paintings and Chinese funerary objects.