William Gantt Jr.

1937 - 2018

William Gantt, Jr.

Greenville - Major General William Adolphus Gantt, Jr., USA R completed his earthly mission Wednesday, November 14, 2018. His passing was, as he would have wanted it to be, with dignity, courage, peaceful and without fear, secure in the knowledge that as a Christian he was entering into the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ.

William and his identical twin brother, Richard Allison Gantt, were born in Loris, S.C. The family moved to Greenville, S.C. and the children, that now included sister, Patricia, spent a Huckleberry Finn childhood on their farm engaging in adventurous games that included tying sister Pat to a tree and attempting to shoot "apples" off her head leaky rafts for floating on the Saluda River, and, harassing the livestock, especially a hated rooster.

Bill graduated from Welcome High School and attended Furman University, graduating in 1959 with a B.A. and a minor in Physics. He and Richard were one of two sets of twins in Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was always involved in pranks with his twin, some of which backfired. Switching places with your brother for an exam doesn't always work out well. His junior year he was recruited for the National Security Agency. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and assigned to Ft. Devens, Massachusetts.

The following December 12, 1959, he and Linda Woods were married and excited to be stationed in Japan. Two weeks before the wedding, that assignment was changed to Camp Wolters, Mineral Wells, Texas. Where? That's what they said. But, they loved the adventures of learning about tarantulas in the front yard that can leap 10 rattlesnakes under the clothesline, scorpions in your shoes, and wonderful friends. He finished his active duty in the Army at Ft. Bragg, N.C. and joined the Active Reserves as 1st Lt. and became Aide to General Kech in Charlotte, N.C.

He began his civilian career as a budding Securities Dealer with McCarley and Co. in Charlotte, N.C. Saner minds and poverty prevailed and he went with Connecticut General Insurance Co. and thus began his growth and expertise in insurance. In 1966 he became associated with The Furman Co, in Greenville, S.C. Furman later became Marsh and McClendon. He attended New York Institute of Finance, obtained his CLU Degree from American College, American Society of Pension Actuaries as an Associate. He also attended Harvard University Management Program. In 1980, Dad and Mike Hawkins started Business Estate Underwriters. 1985 the name was changed to Benefit Controls of S.C., Inc. and developed into ten locations with Dad as CEO. Distinctively, Dad worked with twenty-two different major textile companies as their insurance advisor. He worked until retirement in 2014. He was on the President's Advisory Board of Blue Cross/Blue Shield and was honored by the Board with a dinner and beautiful gift.

As his business career burgeoned his Active Army Reserves Military continued. He was Commandeer of the 108th Training Commander, Company Commander, BN S3, Bridge S3, Brigade Commander, G-3, promoted to One Star Deputy Commanding General, and then Two Star, Commanding General; the highest rank achievable in the Reserves. He attended the War College two times and was invited to the Alumni Leaders Forum in 2016. Upon his Army retirement, he has presented a commendation for Outstanding Service in 108th Division Training and called "The Enlisted Soldier's General."

Dad was very active in community activities service as President of the Greenville Mental Health Board, Jaycees, Past Director of Chamber of Commerce, Board of Visitors of Anderson University, on the Board of ETHIX Corporation, Portland, Oregon, United Way, President's Council of American Heritage Life, Jacksonville, Fl.

MG Gantt was predeceased by his parents, Wm. A. Gantt, Sr. and Alice Mae Woodson, and beloved twin brother Richard Allison Gantt.

He is survived by his wife, Linda W. Gantt, their three children; William Scott Gantt (Pamela), Paige Gantt-Adams (Gregory), and Thomas Matthew Gantt (Amy) , seven grandchildren, Kaitlyn Leigh Gantt, Hannah Elizabeth Gantt, Nathaniel Scott Gantt, Grayson Matthew Gantt, Thomas Woodson Gantt, and Mallory Hart Gantt, and Katherine Arrington Chandler. His sister, Patricia Gantt McNeeley (Alan) niece and nephew Allison, and Alan and extra special niece, Claire Finley Reagan, (Gary) and Cy, Garrett, and Georgia.

Military funeral services will be held Monday, November 19th, 2018 at 1:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church Greenville.

Arrangements under the direction of Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Dr.