Wilmot Benjamin "Buddy" Ouzts, Jr.

Mr. Wilmot Benjamin Ouzts, Jr. “Buddy”, age 92, of North Main Street in Tennille, died Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the Washington County Extended Care Facility following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June the 30th, at 11:00am at the Tennille United Methodist Church with burial in Zeta Cemetery. The Rev. Jeff Cook will officiate. Pallbearers will be Nick Dixon, Dean McCaskill, A.W. Smith, Allen Smith, Thomas Smith, Jay Smith, Sandy Veal, George Elder and Chris Alexander.

Mr. Ouzts was born in Johnston SC, the son of the late Wilmot B. Ouzts, Sr. and the late Mary Sallie Smith Ouzts. He was a graduate of North Georgia College and the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Mr. Ouzts was an Army Veteran of WWII serving as a reconnaissance officer, then known as the “Alamo Scouts”, in the Pacific Theatre. Among many of his service accolades were the Bronze Star Medal and the “Special Forces Shoulder Tab” awarded in 1988 for his distinguished service with the Alamo Scouts. Mr. Ouzts joined the National Guard in 1949 and was instrumental in the creation of the Sandersville Unit from which he retired in 1979 as a Lt. Colonel. He was a lifelong farmer and was elected Superintendent of the Washington County School System in 1956, an office he held until 1976. He was an active member of the Tennille United Methodist Church where he served his church in numerous rolls. Mr. Ouzts was the former co-owner of the D and O Tractor Company and he was a longtime member of the Tennille Rotary Club and the Washington County Farm Bureau where he formerly served as president. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother Charles V. Ouzts.

Survivors are his wife of 65 years, Ruby Augusta Roberts Ouzts of Tennille; sons, W.B. Ouzts III “Ben” of Marietta, Herschel Roberts (Clarissa) Ouzts of Trent Woods NC, Henry Cunningham (Sharon) Ouzts of Dalton, and Charles Allen (Gamble) Ouzts of Charleston SC; grandchildren, Mary Ann Ouzts, Scott Roberts Ouzts, Cort (Lori Beth) Ouzts, Jamie O. (Jake) Reese, Gamble Augusta Ouzts, and Elizabeth C. Ouzts.

The family will receive friends following funeral services.

Donations may be made to the Tennille United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 265, Tennille, GA 31089 or to the Zeta Cemetery Trust Fund, P.O. Box 1, Tennille, GA 31089.

May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville is in charge of the arrangements.
www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com