William Cobb "Bill" Candler

Mr. William Cobb Candler, 95, of Carrollton, Georgia, passed away, Thursday, December 31, 2009, at Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton. He was born April 23, 1914, in Villa Rica, Georgia, the youngest of six children. He was the only son of the late William Beall Candler, Jr. and the late Mrs. Margaret Cobb Candler. He graduated from Villa Rica High School in 1932, and was a 1937 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in textile engineering. He was a veteran of the US Army having served during WWII, where he obtained the rank of Lt. Col. He was a Life Member of the Army Retired Officers Association. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica for 88 years, where he served as an Elder for sixty years. He was a charter and life member of the Villa Rica Lions Club. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Villa Rica Mills. He served on the Bank of Villa Rica Board of Directors, where he served as chairman. He was an avid sports fan with a passion for his alma mater Auburn University; he also enjoyed baseball, church softball which he played until the age of 78, and also tennis which he played until the age of 81. He was also an outdoorsman, enjoying camping with family and quail hunting with his birddogs. He was affectionately known to family and friends as Papa or Bill. He was preceded in death by 5 sisters. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hairston Candler, whom he married on Nov. 23, 1941, one son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Madelyn Candler of Villa Rica, two daughters and son-in-laws, Jane and Jerry Hesterlee of Carrollton and Mary Ann and Jim McKinnon of Carrollton, 8 grandchildren Janet and Terry Schrews, David and Jill Hesterlee, Michael and Jennifer McKinnon, Christi and Clint Johnson, Patrick and Kim McKinnon, Beth and Rodney Edwards, Sharon and Ben Thomas, and Melissa and David Crabbe; 9 great grandchildren also survive. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 2:00 PM from the First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica with Rev. Chad Sadorf and Rev. Al Ruggles officiating. Mr. Candler will be placed in state at the church from 1:30 PM until the funeral hour. His grandsons, David Hesterlee, Terry Schrews, Michael McKinnon, Clint Johnson, Patrick McKinnon, Rodney Edwards, Ben Thomas and David Crabbe will serve as pallbearers. Honorary escort will include Elder Emeritus Harry Nesbit, and current active elders, Carlos Faria, Charlie Gonzalez, Scott Hendricks, Dale Hensley and Greg Lisenby and Deacons Mike Beverly, Richard Ashlock, Mike Hensley, Bob Holland, Nathaniel Keel and Dennis Weiss. Interment will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Villa Rica. The family will receive friends at the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests that contributions in Mr. Candler’s memory be made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 519 Main Street, Villa Rica, Georgia 30180. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.jones-wynn.com. Jones-Wynn Funeral Home of Villa Rica is in charge of arrangements.