Timothy William O'Leary

COLUMBIA - Timothy William O’Leary passed at the age of 83. Tim resided with his wife, Avis, at 112 Lame Horse Road in Columbia, S.C. His death occurred on April 17, 2011, in Palmetto Health Hospital after a long illness. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at St. David’s Episcopal Church with visitation following in the fellowship hall. Burial will be held at a later date in Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. Born January 10, 1928, in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Blanche and Daniel O’Leary. He had three brothers and three sisters, Ernest, Samuel, Joseph, Mildred, Mary and Margie. Tim entered the Merchant Marine Academy at the age of 16 and was commissioned as an ensign. He served onboard a tanker during WWII. He attended Texas Christian University and later entered the Officer Candidate School in 1952, graduating as a second lieutenant. Tim was stationed in Verdun, France, serving in the Signal Corps, and was discharged from the Army in 1953. In 1953 Tim was employed as Regional Sales Manager with the Flintkote Company of Philadelphia until his resignation in 1970. Later on that year he owned and operated the Power Crawler and Compactor Co., Inc., of Washington, D.C., where he met and married his wife, Avis Brateng O’Leary, in 1973. In 1974 he moved to Pinehurst, N.C., and formed the O’Leary Brothers Construction Co. where he developed and built the Lawn and Tennis Club of North Carolina as well as other residential communities until 1985. Subsequently, O’Leary Brothers Construction Co., along with Tim and Avis, moved to Columbia where he continued building residential communities. Tim retired from business in 2006. Tim was a member of Saint David’s Episcopal Church. He was an avid golfer and football fan. Most important to him was his family, especially his grandchildren, Brianne, age 19, and Dakota, age 16, and his faith. His interests included golf, tennis, photography, politics and reading. He was a member of Wildewood and Woodcreek Country Clubs in Columbia and Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C. Tim O’Leary is survived by his wife, Avis Brateng O’Leary; son, Timothy Dennis O’Leary; daughter, Linda O’Leary Sheetz; a granddaughter, Brianne O’Leary Sheetz; a grandson, Dakota O’Leary Sheetz; sister, Margie O’Leary Ross. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 520 Gervais St., Columbia, SC 29201, the Arthritis Foundation, 4530 Park Road, Suite 230, Charlotte, NC 28209 or Saint David’s Episcopal Church, 605 Polo Road, Columbia, SC 29223.