William Wilmer

William Blackiston Wilmer VI died on March 28 at Park Springs in Stone Mountain. He was born on March 12, 1928 in Baltimore Maryland and grew up in Chestertown, Maryland. During the war years he lived with his Aunt and Uncle, Dr. and Mrs. Donald Stam. Bill graduated from the McDonogh School in Baltimore. He enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Duke University in the NROTC. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering and was commissioned in 1951. While at Duke, Bill was president of his fraternity, ATO, and was a member of ODK and Red Friars. Also, while at Duke, Bill met his future wife, Lena McArthur Smith, of Clover, S. C. They were married after graduation. Having served three years active duty on a destroyer, and 22 years in the Naval Reserve, Bill retired from the Navy as a Commander. Bill worked in engineering management for the DuPont Company in Aiken, S. C. and at Seaford, DE. In Aiken, Bill was an Explorer Scout Leader, member of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Building Committee of the Crippled Children’s Society, Vice President of the PTA, Chairman of the Savannah River Section of the Instrument Society of America, and Chairman of the Joint Council of Scientific and Engineering Societies. In the Naval Reserve, Bill was Commanding Officer of a Surface Unit in Wilmington, DE, and later, Commanding Officer of a Research Unit in Philadelphia, PA. After 30 years with DuPont and the Navy, Bill and Mackie returned to her home state of S. C. They lived at Keowee Key near Salem, S. C., where Bill worked in real estate sales for the Re/Max Company. He took great pleasure in helping retired couples find their “dream homes”. Bill was very active in the Duke University Alumna Association. He served for many years as a class agent and in 2000 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Duke University School of Engineering. Bill was a member of Kiwanis International, serving as president of both the Seaford and Walhalla Clubs. He was a Distinguished Lieutenant Governor of the Carolinas District. He was devoted to the “Terrific Kids” Program of Kiwanis and distributed awards at the Tamassee School for many years. Bill loved his church. He was an Elder of the Seaford, DE, Presbyterian Church and served as a Trustee of the Seneca, SC Presbyterian Church. Bill’s hobbies were wood-carving and sailing. He was devoted to his family. Mackie and Bill have three children, Frances W. Richardson of Atlanta, married to Clinton Richardson, and twin sons, William B. Wilmer VII married to the former Kathy Coyle, and Dr. Herbert S. Wilmer who is married to the former Laura Veasey. Bill and Kathy live in Charlotte, Bert and Laura in Denver, NC. Bill and Mackie have five grandchildren and four great grandchild. Bill’s Sister, Page W. Flint, was deceased two years ago. Interment will be at St. Paul’s Parish-Kent, Chestertown, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Paul’s Parish-Kent, 7579 Sandy Bottom Road, Chestertown, MD 21620; or to the Park Springs Employee Appreciation Fund, 500 Springhouse Rd., Stone Mountain, GA 30087.Read Obituary