Willard Germaine Egan

Willard Germaine Egan (Bill) passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at The Retreat at Marsh’s Edge, Saint Simons Island, Georgia. He was the son of John J. Egan and Julia Wood Egan of Buffalo, New York. He was predeceased by his first wife of 39 years, Jackie O’Brien Egan, on December 23, 1990, his infant son, John Edward Egan (twin to Jeffrey Wood Egan), brother Doctor Richard Egan, Houston, Texas, sister Marjorie Egan McCurdy, Boulder, Colorado, and granddaughter Katie Egan, Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Bill was a graduate of Bennett High School, Buffalo, New York and University of Buffalo, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. He was drafted in 1951 in the U S Army, then sent to Field Artillery Officers’ Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was commissioned as a 2Lt. His first assignment was the training cadre in the preparation of the Illinois National Guard for service in the Korean War. Camp Cook, California was the mobilization site. In mid-April, 1952 he witnessed an atomic explosion in Nevada, where both eyes were severely burned. Bill was then sent to Korea. He received the Air Medal with Cluster for Field Artillery Target Acquisitions missions and was promoted to 1Lt. while in Korea.

After leaving the army, he returned to the University of Buffalo taking business classes. He then went to work for the Artistic Furniture Company to learn about the furniture business. In 1956, he took advantage of a new furniture manufacturer Wayneline Inc. in Jesup, Georgia. He began as the Cutting Room Foreman. He eventually worked his way into merchandising and then Executive Vice President of Wayneline Inc. He then joined Singer Furniture (formerly Carpenter Furniture) in Roanoke, Virginia, as Vice President of Merchandising and later becoming Vice President of Production.

Bill left Singer Furniture and bought Larkin Industries in Swainsboro, Georgia, selling it in 1978. He then moved to Brunswick becoming Office Manager for Parker-Helms Industrial Supply retiring in 1988 to care for his wife, Jackie until her death in 1990.

His civic affiliations were the Jesup Jaycees, Kiwanis Clubs of Jesup, Swainsboro, and Brunswick. He was an active member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans, International Bird Dog Association (Combat Artillery Air Observers), and proud supporter of the University of Buffalo Bulls.

Bill received his pilot’s license in 1964. He was the proud owner of a Piper Cherokee 180 four passenger private plane named The Wine Bottle for the W in the phonetic alphabet. He used it for private business trips and family vacations.

He was an architect designing his family’s home on Harper Street in Jesup, Georgia. The home was unique in that it only had four corners in the entire house. He was always involved in woodworking projects around the house working with his two sons. Using the drawings of the Saint Simons Pier area, he turned his sketches into stationary for friends and family. Tennis shoe benches were his final woodworking project for his tennis friends in Naples, Florida, while living there.

Survivors include his present wife of 26 years, Shirley, son David B. Egan (Joan Egan) of Sudbury, Mass., son Jeffrey Wood Egan (Gayle Vissage Egan) Brunswick, Georgia, granddaughter Zelma Elisabeth Egan Hughes (Stephen) Clermont, Florida, and great-granddaughter Victoria Elisabeth Hughes, Clermont, Florida.

Shirley’s daughters Cece Maybury Yourshaw, Blacksburg, Virginia, Melissa Maybury Lubin (Neal) Charlottesville, Virginia, grandsons Mike Yourshaw, Blacksburg, Virginia, Matt Yourshaw, Oren, Utah and DC Lubin, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Additional survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.

Saint Simons Island McDonald’s Coffee Club members include Don Gammon, Tom Missledine, Karen Bair, Dick Egeland, Kathy Mensinger, Joan Harris, Martha Johnson, Trudy and Bob McNally, John Gibson, and Cecil Dugger, who will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

Memorial Services will be held Wednesday June 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Saint Simons Island. Reverend Doctor Wright Culpepper will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to The National Association of Atomic Veterans NAAV 130 Cleveland Street, Lebanon, OR 97355-4505.

A Celebration of Life will be held later in the summer.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.edomillerandsons.com for the Egan family.