He joined the Marine Corps in 1940 at Parris Island and served at Camp LeJeune, NC and Indian Head, MD before shipping out to the South Pacific in service of his country, He participated in many battles with the Second Marine Division, including Saipan, Tinian and Tarawa, where he buried many of his fellow Marines in spite of being wounded himself. After the Marine Corps, he worked for his father-in-law before rejoining the service, this time the United States Army. While in the Army, he was stationed with his family in Maryland, Virginia, Alabama, Colorado, Texas, Italy and finally retiring in 1964 at Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. After retirement, he went to work for the Department of the Army, inspecting communications equipment at Army Reserve Units along the East Coast and then at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1984, he moved to the Atlanta area where he continued to work for the Department of the Army at Fort Gillem. He retired again in 1989.
He is survived by his wife Gerri of Ellenwood, GA. Additionally, he is survived by his daughters, Sharon of Manassas, VA; Charlotte (Howard) Goodie of Manassas and Denise (Jay) Burnett of Campobello, SC; and son, James of Columbia SC. Step-daughters; Glenda Smalley and Trish Nyquist of Atlanta, GA, Grandchildren: Kristan McLaughlin of Middletown, CN; Jason (Sonia) Ashurst and Adam (Samantha) Ashurst of Gainesville, VA; Stephanie (Craig) Weil of Virginia Beach, VA and Matthew Goodie of Arlington, VA. Great grandchildren: Brittni Robinson of Wilmington, NC, Lorenzo, Addison, Michael and Sydney Ashurst of Gainesville, VA, James D and Trenton Ashurst of Columbia SC, Trey Burnett of Campobello, SC; and Millie and Craig Weil of Virginia Beach VA.
He is predecessed by the parents, his sisters, Juanita Chatlos and Annette Ricks, his wives, Mildred Posey, Katherine Echols and Saundra Richbourg; and his beloved son Michael.
Family and friends will be received for a visitation on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 from 6 PM to 8 PM and on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 from 1 PM to 2 PM at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home located at 376 Fairview Rd in Stockbridge, GA. A funeral service will immediately follow the visitation on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 2 PM. Interment will take place at Fairview Memorial Gardens.
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