Tributes

Conway.....Wendell Joseph Holbert, Sr., age 92, of Hwy. 319, died Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at his residence. Mr. Holbert was born June 26, 1914 in Conway, a son of the late James Ralph Holbert, Sr. and Janie Cox Holbert. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Conway, Attended Conway Schools and graduated from the University of Kentucky. Mr. Holbert attended the Louisiana State Medical School for two years then enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was attatched to the Navy at the beginning of World War Two. He was the First Captain of the Port of Georgetown, and served in the Anti Submarine Warfare American Defense and European-African Theater of War. He was then transferred to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, where he became the Commanding Officer of the USS LST 66. The USS LST 66 earned eight battle stars and the Navy Comendation under his Command. At the end of the War, he was assingned as the Coast Guard Liason Officer to the Occupation Forces of Japan, with offices in both Tokyo and Yokohama. Mr. Holbert was awarded the US Treasury Department Silver Life Saving Medal for Heroic deeds in saving a life of the perils from the Sea. After leaving the military, Mr. Holbert returned to Conway to join his family Accounting Practice. Later he founded Holbert Company where he practiced Public Accounting for over 50 years. Mr. Holbert was a member of the Navy Club of Georgetown, the National Society of Public Accountants and the Horry Post 111 of the American Legion. Mr. Holbert was predeceased by two brothers, James R. Holbert, Jr. and Alexander S. Holbert and one sister, Ardath H. Burroughs. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Betty Jo Spivey Holbert of Conway, one son, Wendell J. "Joe" Holbert, Jr. and his wife, Tona of Conway, one daughter, Shaula H. Richardson and her husband, Jimmy of Conway, three grandchildren, Tamara R. Tindal and her husband, Richard, Wendell J. "Jay" Holbert III and his wife, Shannon and Lori Holbert all of Conway, two great-grandchildren, Charles Morgan Calhoun and Jenna Grace Holbert, his faithful nurse and caregiver, Elouise Callaway of Conway, one sister, Annabelle H. Burroughs of Conway and one brother, Conrad A. "Bud" Holbert of Rock Hill, SC. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday at First Baptist Church of Conway with Rev. Carl Hunsucker and Mitch Godwin officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeside Cemetery directed by Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be sent to Mercy Hospice of Horry County, P.O. Box 50640, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is in charge of arrangements.