George H. "Buddha" Wiltshire Jr.

George H. Wiltshire June 26, 1929 - January 19, 2004 COLUMBUS, GA - Mr. George H. "Buddha" Wiltshire Jr., Ret. SFC USA, 74, of 4 Melody Court, Columbus, died Monday at St. Francis Hospital. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Benedict The Moor Catholic Church with Father Gerald Schreck officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Main Post Cemetery, according to Progressive Funeral Home, Inc. Visitation is noon until 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home followed by a Rosary at 6 p.m. The cortege will depart from the residence Friday at 9:30 a.m. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., on June 26, 1929, Mr. Wiltshire was the only child of stage and television actor George H. Wiltshire Sr., and Mabel Wiltshire, both of whom preceded him in death. Mr. Wiltshire joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1951, later transferring to the regular army. He served combat tours of duty in the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts, later retiring at Fort Benning, Ga., in 1979 after 28 years of service. Mr. Wiltshire became involved in community life in Columbus through his work with Columbus Times Newspaper as an Account Representative and Staff Photographer. He could be seen at many civic, political and social events taking photographs and conducting interviews for the newspaper. His photographs documented many of the social changes that took place in Columbus during that period. Mr. Wiltshire was also a founding member of the Controllers Civic and Social Club. With them he organized programs to support the needy and underprivileged children of Columbus and Fort Benning. As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 267, he served in Public Relations and received the "Legionnaire of the Year Award" for 1993/94. He was a very devout member of St. Benedict The Moor Catholic Church until his health declined. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, the late Ernestine Lee Wiltshire in 1992. Surviving are two daughters, Joyce V. Wiltshire of Columbus and Lois L. Herd (Michael) of Oklahoma City, Okla.; two sons, George Dwayne Wiltshire III (Angela) and Kevin R. Wiltshire, both of Columbus; nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren, a sister and brother-in-law, Delores Baines of Newark, N.J., and Ernest Baines of Savannah, Ga.; and a host of cousins in Philadelphia and the British Isles; other relatives and friends.