William Pettigrew McWhorter Jr.

WILLIAM McWHORTER ALPHARETTA, GA. William Pettigrew McWhorter, Jr., 83, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2006, after a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife of 54 years, Catherine, and his three children. William was born September 20, 1922 in Tampa, FL, and moved with his family to Coral Gables, FL where he attended Coral Gables Elementary and Ponce De Leon Senior High School. His early years were spent in Miami, FL, as an Eagle Scout, boat building, and read ing every book in his high schools library. He attended the University of Florida in Gainseville, FL unitl he enlisted in the US Army and was deployed to the 1689th Engineer Construction Battalion, and served in Japan. After serv ing his country, he returned to Miami and graduated from the University of Miami, with an A.B. and Master of Science in Clini cal Psychology. He was a mem ber of Alpha Phi Omega and Psi Chi honorary, and was a charter member of Pi Kappa Phi frater nity. He served as an clinical Psychologist for the U.S. Air Force in Homestead, FL, and taught and served as an Assist ant Principal in the Dade County School System. He also taught Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics, and had a photographic memory for words and the study of language origin. He was a mason and a Son of the American Revolution. His wide range of hobbies included grafting citrus and avo cado trees, Mayan hieroglyph ics, and anything mechanical. He was particularly interested in the studies of human behavior and relationships, and write a number of essays on the dynamics of cooperative behav ior. He was also a gifted artist and musician, and crafted his own violin. He belonged to a number of choirs, and loved to sing. after retirement, he moved to Cocoa Beach, and joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary and taught boating safety. He was privileged to use his boat to patrol the Intracoastal Waterway of the Indian River and Banana River, and especially enjoyed search-and-rescue activities and providing assistance during the space shuttle launches from the Kennedy Space Center. As an educator and one who con sidered himself a lifelong stu dent, he served on a Board of Directors for the Friends of the Library in Cocoa Beach and was privileged to support the construction of the new library. For the past five years, he resided in Alpharetta, GA. He was known as an intelligent, patient, and humble man, who always had a kind word for everyone. He had a sharp mind, a gentle wit, and the highest integrity. He was a loving hus band, and wonderful father. He made great pancakes. Mr. McWhorter is survived by his wife of 54 years, Catherine Houghton McWhorter of Alpharetta, GA; daughters, Gail Hansen and son-in-law Bill Hansen of Alpharetta, GA, and Shauna Tucker of Birmingham, AL; son, Shane McWhorter, PhD, of Decatur, GA; grand- children, Alan Hansen and Alexander Hansen of Alpharetta, GA, and Jenna Hansen of Columbus, OH. He is also survived by his brother John L. McWhorter of Miami; nephew, Brian McWhorter of Alpharetta, GA; niece, Cheryl Star; sister, Viola Waugh and brother-in-law James Waugh of Stuart, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Friends of the Cocoa Beach Library, 550 N. Brevard Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Memorial Services will be held at the Northside Chapel, 12050 Crabapple Road, Ros well, Georgia, (770) 645-1414. The family will receive friends from 3 to 4 p.m., and the Memo rial Service will be held at 4 p.m.