Mr. Wiley Shackford Obenshain Jr.

Mr. Obenshain was predeceased by his parents, Mr. and Mr. W. S. Obenshain, Sr. of Charlotte, N.C. and by his son, W. S. Obenshain, III (Trey) of Augusta, Ga.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Marilyn Murphy Head Obenshain, and his two daughters: Barbara O. Segars (William) of Rome, Georgia, and Anne O. Morgan of St. Petersburg Beach, Florida; his daughter-in-law, Phyllis B. Obenshain of Highlands, N.C. In addition, Mr. Obenshain is also survived by his sons: Dixon R. Head, Jr. (Peggy) of San Francisco California; Emerson W. Head of Amsterdam, Holland the Netherlands; and Francis M. Head of Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren: William O. “Shain” Segars (Alicia) of Trussville, Alabama.; T. Blake Segars (Katharine) of Atlanta, Georgia; Amanda D. Morgan of St. Petersburg Beach, Florida; Alexandra L. Obenshain of Augusta, Georgia; and Shannon R. Richards (Keith) of Clayton, Georgia. Surviving, as well, are three great grandchildren.

Mr. Obenshain was born on November 14, 1920 in Charlotte, NC. He has resided in Atlanta for more than sixty-two years.

He graduated from Duke University in 1942 where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity. Immediately following graduation from Duke, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and completed Officers' Training Schools at both Notre Dame and Northwestern University.

He went on to serve five years of active duty in the South Pacific with the rank of Lieutenant JG, a senior torpedo officer on the destroyer class USS Buchanan. While serving in the Pacific Theatre, in addition to various service medals, Lt. Obenshain along with the support of ships crew earned a Presidential citation award for participation in various maneuvers and actions in war time. While serving in the Pacific, Mr. Obenshain's ship went through three typhoons. A historical accounting of this is written in two different books, "The Other Enemy" and "Sea Cobra" by Buckner F. Melton.

After the war, Mr. Obenshain moved to Atlanta, where he began his professional career representing Savage Arms. He then went on to Sealtest Southern Dairies where he served as Executive Vice President. From there, Mr. Obenshain continued his professional career as President of Southeastern Industrial Engineering Corporation until his retirement.

Mr. Obenshain was a founding member of The Commerce Club of Atlanta and a Legion of Honor member of The Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, having been a member since 1952. As indicated by these memberships, he retained an active interest in the Atlanta business community for much of his life, which was especially dynamic during the years of his professional career.

He was a lifetime member of the Capital City Club of Atlanta and a member of the Phoenix Society, where he served on the Men’s Committee. He was a member of the Cathedral of Christ the King, as well as the Christian charity organization, The Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.

Mr. Obenshain in retirement served as a weekly volunteer at the Atlanta Shriners' Hospital for Children for many years.

Among his many interests, he and his wife, Marilyn, especially enjoyed traveling the world, where they visited many continents and countries and considered their many friends from these travels as an important part of their lives together. In addition, Mr. Obenshain retained an admiration for the sea and ships throughout his life following his time in the Pacific.

Pallbearers include: Miles McCahey, Richard Everett, Sanford Matthews, George Novak, Woody White, John Lally and Ed Volertson.

Honorary pallbearers include: James Dalton, Hank Powell, Rex Morris, Hal Clarke, Klaus Putter, Jim Hund, Thorwald Eros and Vann Henagan.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Friday, the third of September at half after ten o’clock in the morning, followed by a private burial service for family at Arlington Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Thursday, the second of September from five o’clock until seven o’clock in the evening.

The funeral mass will be officiated by Msgr. Gerald Dillon, and Archbishop John Francis Donaghue of the Atlanta Archdiocese and The Very Reverend Valentine Ambrose McInnes.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to your favorite charity. Arrangements being made by H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill.