William Wimberly Obituary

William Bruce Wimberly WALTERBORO - William Bruce Wimberly, husband of Joann Nason Wimberly, passed away Sunday at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 84. Bruce was born in Jackson County, Florida on August 10, 1931 to Erastus and Tommie Wimberley. He attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship where he met his future wife, Joann Nason, of Augusta, Ga. Upon graduation from Georgia, he served in the U.S. Army, and afterward was employed by the Shell Oil Company. In 1961, he became the owner and president of King Petroleum Co. in Walterboro, SC. Over the years, he served as a director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, trustee of Colleton County Hospital, director of the SC Oil Jobbers Association, Dogwood Hills Country Club, the UGA Football Letterman's Club and the SC Golf Association. He was a member of the Carolina Yacht Club, Fripp Island and Dataw Island Clubs. Bruce was a good friend, a wonderful husband, and a loving father. He had a terrific sense of humor that he shared readily and often. He imparted his love of classical music and the importance of hand-written correspondence regularly. He taught his children to fish, to shoot, and by his actions, to be courageous and humble. He taught his sons how to navigate to the Gulf Stream and back before electronics did it for you. He taught his daughter to be a lady in the field, and still outshoot most men. Only if you asked him, he would tell you that he played football for the University of Georgia. When interviewed for a piece on UGA Coach Wally Butts, Bruce acknowledged playing for Coach Butts but claimed he wasn't really very good and couldn't understand why he got to play at all. The University of Georgia Football Hall of Fame thought differently. He wouldn't tell you that either. But he would tell you if you were playing golf too slowly or if you managed to lose too much of his tackle while fishing with him at the wreck of the City of Savannah. He loved his friends, both young, old, and those no longer with us. Bruce is survived by his wife, Joann Nason Wimberley; his children, Lee (Elizabeth J.) Wimberley of Jacksonville, Fla., Steve Wimberley of Beaufort, SC, and Ann W. (Antony) Merck of Charleston, SC; his grandchildren, Betsy W. (Alex) Meek of Jacksonville, Fla., Mary Katherine Wimberley of Charleston, SC, and Lee Harden Wimberley of Jacksonville, Fla.; a sister and her husband, Nira W. and William Holt; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Gilda W. Ivey. The family will receive visitors at home on Wednesday, December 16th from 4:00-6:00. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Colleton County Animal Shelter or St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home of Walterboro is in charge of arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston