LOUISE M. WILLIMON

JUNE 23, 1914 – FEBRUARY 7, 2010

BEAUFORT, SC – Mrs. Louise McClure Willimon, of Beaufort, SC, previously of Clemson, SC, died at her home in River Oaks Assisted Living, in Beaufort on February 7, 2010.

A daughter of Elizabeth Bee McClure and Clifton Moody McClure, she was born on June 23, 1914, in Anderson, SC.  She was predeceased in 2000 by her husband of 63 years, Eugene Perritt Willimon, a native of Greenville, SC; and in 2001 by their son, Eugene Perritt “Rusty” Willimon, Jr. She was also predeceased by five brothers: Tom, Cliff, Charles, Gene and Paul McClure; and one sister, Mary McClure Busby.

Mrs. Willimon is survived by her daughter, Louise “Weezie” Willimon Gibson and husband, Jim of Beaufort, SC, and their children: Josh Gibson and Elizabeth O’Brien and husband, Joe; her daughter-in-law, Patricia “Patsy” Godwin Willimon of LaGrange, GA, and her children: Richard Willimon and his wife, Laura, Lisa Moody and husband, Leon, Angie Cosper and husband, Chip, Cindy Serson and husband, Taylor, and Cliff Willimon and wife, Kristen; and seventeen great-grandchildren: Jefferson and Warren Gibson, Emmett and Nora O’Brien, Elizabeth, Evelyn, and Rich Willimon, Ashlee, Drew, Logan, and Peyton Moody, Kendall, Christian, and Henry Cosper, Gabriel and Hollis Serson, and McClure Willimon.  She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Alice Willimon von Stein of Brevard, NC.

Mrs. Willimon, who was a member of the Clemson United Methodist Church, lived in Clemson from 1950 until moving to Beaufort, SC, in 2001.  During those years she was active in numerous aspects of Clemson University life, especially activities involving Clemson Athletics and the Clemson IPTAY Club of which her husband was Executive Director from 1950 until 1977 when he retired.  In 1988, she was honored as the Tiger Brotherhood Mother of the Year.  She was a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader.  She was the owner and director of “Happy Time School”, a pre-school for 3 and 4 year old children for many years.  As a volunteer at Clemson Downs Health Center, she was instrumental in recruiting 130 volunteers. She was a member of the Clemson Women’s Club, Clemson Garden Club, Edith Cooper Book Club, Anderson Senior Assembly, the Psi Kappa chapter of Chi Omega Sorority at Clemson University of which she was a founding member and advisor for many years. The Chi Omega Chapter at Clemson has established the “Lou Willimon Leadership Award” given annually to a Senior Member of Chi Omega. 

Mr. and Mrs. Willimon also established and donated the “Clemson University Annual Outstanding Athlete Award.”

Services will be on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, with a 1:00 pm Graveside Service at Old Silver Brook Cemetery, Anderson SC, followed by a Memorial Service at 2:30 pm at the

Madren Center at Clemson University, Clemson, SC. Officiating will be Bishop William H. Willimon and Reverend Jack W. Gibson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Clemson University IPTAY, PO Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29636; or Riverview Charter School, 302 Burroughs Ave, Beaufort, SC 29902; or EC Montessori School, 15 Celadon Drive, Beaufort, SC 29907; or the Eugene Perritt “Rusty” Willimon Academic Scholarship, c/o LaGrange Academy, 1501 Vernon Road, LaGrange, GA 30240.

Mrs. Willimon’s family would like to especially thank the caregivers at River Oaks Assisted Living for their excellent care and devotion to her.

A message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com.

THE McDOUGALD FUNERAL HOME, Anderson, SC, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.