William Wilkinson Earthman Jr.

William W. Earthman Jr. was the son of Dr. William Wilkinson Earthman and Martha Litchford Earthman.

The Earthman family has resided in Davidson County since the late 1790s.

Bill's self-described greatest accomplishment was marrying Frances Johnston, who preceded him in death.

His three sons are William W. Earthman, III born May 10, 1952 married to wife, Sandra, Dr. Webb J. Earthman born February 6, 1955 married to wife, Kathryn, and Daniel Scott Earthman born February 17, 1957 married to wife, Robyn. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Will, Kara, Ashley, Rachel, Kelly, Jen and Scott.

As a lover of golf and long-time player, he won the Nashville Hole in One Tournament as a youngster, and was later second in the Greater Atlanta Invitation defeating Tommy Barnes and Gene Dahllender, both of whom won the Southern Amateur. He played on the Georgia Tech Golf Team, and played several times with Bobby Jones who took the team to breakfast each year.

As a long-time member of Methodist Church, Bill served on the Board of Stewards at Belmont Methodist Church. He also served as Treasurer and Financial Officer. He taught Sophomore Sunday School three years. He later served on Administration, Trust Committee, Finance Committee at West End United Methodist Church.

He was a long time employee of Genesco. He represented Genesco to Sears Roebuck who used in excess of 1,000,000 pairs of shoes annually. At various times he served as head of marketing and also product development. He served as head of the imperial division of Johnston & Murphy, I. Miller N.Y., Rayne Shoe located in London England, and Charles Jordan and Romans located in Paris and in Romans, France.

During World War II, Bill spent two years on Johnston Island 711 miles S.E. of Pearl Harbor, a U.S. Navy air facility. The island was coral only, was one mile long, one-half mile wide, and five feet above sea level. During his time on Johnston Island, a seven-foot tidal came out of Aleutians and devastated Hawaii where it split in half and consequently missed their little island.

Bill was a member of Belle Meade Country Club where he served a term as Director and Vice President. He was also a former member of the Exchange Club of Nashville, Society of Amateur Chefs of America, Empire Club New York and Club International Chicago, and the Birchwood Country Club in Harbor Springs, Michigan, a favorite summer place.

Active Pall Bearers are Sidney McAllister, Ben Doubleday, Charles H. Robinson, J.W. Warner, Ed Graham, Wilson Sims and Bill Stude of St. Louis.

Honorary Pall Bearers are American Society of Amateur Chefs, West End Methodist Church Lunch Group, Andrew Mizell, David Wiley, Marshall Trammell, David Graves, Bob Warner, Stuart Campbell, Richard Douglas, and Jack Gibson.

The family wishes to extend its gratitude to Mr. Earthman’s caregivers in his last years, especially Lonnie Elam, Ann Hicks, Thymus Ritche, Marlowe and Ron, all of whom made his life so much better.

Visitation Tuesday, July 28, 2015 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at West End United Methodist Church. Funeral service to follow at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to West End United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.