William B. Karst Sr.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife and partner of 57 years, Elaine Chapman Karst.

He is survived by his son Bill Karst, Jr., and wife Ginny Merdes of Hawaii, daughter Carol Franklin and husband Scott of Charleston, and three cherished granddaughters, Elie Franklin, a graduate of Auburn University in architecture now living in Dallas; Carie Franklin, a freshman at the University of South Carolina, and Amie Franklin, a sophomore at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant.

Bill was a Greenville native, whose parents ran a small family grocery store near where he grew up on McGee Street at the site of the current Greenville Law Enforcement Center.

His father, Gustav Aldolf Karst emigrated from Germany after WWI but died when Bill was 11, thrusting his wife and young children into self reliance and a work ethic that characterized their lives.

His mother Genela Bleckley Karst had been a fixture in downtown Greenville, known by all the merchants, bus drivers and friends as she made her rounds.

Bill was preceded in death by older brother Sam Karst, a Senior Master Sargent in the Air Force who contributed to testing of respiratory systems instrumental in future space travel, and by sister Caroline Karst Newton, who was an early era flight attendant and later teacher.

He proudly served in the US Navy during WWII and after his service received his Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University and a Bachelors of Industrial Engineering from NC State. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi honorary societies.

He was past chairman of the Greenville area American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He started his career as a summer intern at Steel Heddle Mfg. Co in high school in 1941 and continued to work there for the next 50 years initially as a design engineer with a starting salary of $0.35 per hour and eventually retiring as Chief Engineer. He remained loyal to the company through eight presidents.

After retirement in 1990, he had the pleasure of maintaining friendships and associations with past employees and fought for recognition of the contribution the textile industry made to the Greenville area. Bill enjoyed sports of all kinds – from football to horseshoes to ping-pong, but his real love was bowling. He was a member of the Greenville Bowlers Association for over 50 years and participated in multiple leagues till he was 87 years old.

Regardless of other activities, Bill’s greatest passion was as a devoted Christian and member of Overbrook Baptist Church for 56 years. Over those years he served as a Deacon, church treasurer, Sunday School teacher, Building and Grounds Chairman, RA leader, and chair and member of many committees and ministries with the mission of growing God’s Kingdom. He was committed to acting out his faith thru giving – money, support, solace, and mostly, time to help numerous individuals, families and causes.

He helped needy families find housing, consoled grieving spouses, visited untold hospitals and nursing homes, and delivered Meals on Wheels until two years ago. He found it very easy to give, but hard to take. Having outlived so many of his relatives and friends, he often voiced the importance of sharing his memories with others. Bill went to be with his Heavenly Father in his home surrounded by happy memories. His family is proud of all he achieved and will always be influenced by the example he set for selflessness and concern for others.

A special thanks is offered to his friend Ginny Weede and other members of Greenville Comfort Keepers and Caris Hospice for making his final days full of compassion and caring.

A celebration of his Homegoing will be Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 2pm at Overbook Baptist Church, 1705 East North Street, Greenville, SC.

Visitation will be at the church preceding the funeral at 1pm.

Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Overbrook Baptist Church.