Obituary of Latimer Williams

Latimer Williams III ?Lat? Latimer ?Lat? Williams III, died Wednesday November 25, 2009, at age 84 of cancer, at home under hospice care. A Charlotte resident for almost 50 years, Mr. Williams was born in Columbia, SC on October 10, 1925, the oldest son of Latimer Jr. and Carolyn Post Williams. As a youth in Columbia and Charlotte, Lat enjoyed many activities, several of which became lifelong passions for him. He developed his skill at golf, playing at Forest Lake Country Club, where his parents were charter members, and he loved the game all his life. Lat played regularly until a year ago, when his disease robbed him of his stamina. His father taught him a love of sailing and the sea, and he spent many summers sailing the family?s sloop ?Vixen?. Later, as a father he taught his sons to play golf and to sail, though none of them ever approached his golfing skills. He also loved gardening, as his well-planted yards would attest. Lat graduated from Charlotte?s Central High School in 1943, and attended UNC Chapel Hill in the Navy V-12 program. There he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He served aboard the USS Minneapolis in the Asiatic Pacific from 1943-46, participating in all operations in the Palau, Philippines and Okinawa theaters. Returning home after the war, Lat graduated from the University of South Carolina, where he was a member of the USC Golf team. From 1949 to 1967, he was an insurance company representative for several companies. For the remainder of his career he was a Property-Casualty Agent, first with James J. Harris Company, and then as Insurance Division Manager for Waters, Inc, where he retired in 1991 after 20 years of service. Lat was active in his sons? Boy Scout troops, serving as Troop Committee Chairman for Troops 155 and 55. He was recognized for this service by being elected to the Order of the Arrow, an honorary Scouting organization. He was a former member of Cedarwood Country Club, Charlotte North Rotary Club, and he served as a volunteer at Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Charlotte. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Mary and sons Latimer IV and his wife, Debby, of Charlotte; David, of Mount Pleasant, SC; Steven and his wife, Robin, of Gibsonia, PA; and John and his wife, Laura, of Saluda, NC; granddaughters Elise and Emily of Gibsonia; Dana and her husband, Jason Schloesser, of Catawba, NC; grandson Harrison, of Mount Pleasant; and great-granddaughter Ella Schloesser, of Catawba. He is also survived by his brother Warrington Williams and his wife, Jean of Hartsville, SC; brother, Norman Williams of Baltimore, MD; sister, Carolyn Stevens, of Georgetown, SC, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Evelyn Risher of Columbia, SC. Mr. Williams and his family want to thank the many doctors and nurses who treated him during his 17-year battle with cancer. Because of their care he had many good years to share life with family and friends. Special thanks to the wonderful caregivers at Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region-South. It was Mr. Williams? wish that any memorials be made to Hospice & Palliative Care, 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204; First Baptist Church, 301 South Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28202; or the charity of your choice. Funeral Service will be at 3:00 PM Saturday, November 28, 2009 in the chapel of Hankins and Whittington Funeral Service 1111 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203 with Rev. Michael Cummings and Rev. Mark Harris, officiating. Interment will be private for the family. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday from 2:00 until 3:00 PM.