Wyndald C. Ethridge

Wyndald Carlyle "Buddy" Ethridge, 82, of Decatur, died Thursday, March 13, 2008. He was the son of Louis and Lemma Hardy Ethridge. Born in Empire, Georgia, he moved to Atlanta at the age of seven. He was a graduate of Tech High School. During WWII he served in the U.S. Navy on an LST in the Pacific theater and attended Officers Candidate Schools at Princeton University, Howard College and the University of South Carolina. He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Silvia Hornsby Ethridge; his two sisters. Myrna Ethridge Erwin of Huntsville, Alabama and Weida Ethridge Hobgood of Tyrone, Georgia; nephew Wayne Pierce; four nieces: Dodi Ramsey, Debbie Hobgood, Janet Jeffares and Lisa Hobgood; and his much loved cats, Eddie and Dexter. He retired in 1979 from the Georgia Department of Transportation, after 34 years of service, as State Road and Airport Design Engineer, in charge of the design of all Interstate, Primary and Secondary routes outside urban areas in the State. He was especially proud of his participation in the unusual design requirements of Interstate 95 through the coastal marshlands of Georgia, where he walked the entire line from South Carolina to Florida during its preparation. He was a member of Canongate Golf Club for 34 years and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was a lifelong Baptist. He was an avid reader with a broad knowledge of many subjects, had done extensive genealogical research which he donated to the State Archives and enjoyed with his wife the intricacies of the English language. He loved golf, poetry, Riverwalk jazz and a nice glass of wine. We will miss his boundless wit, bright smile and steady guidance. He was a prince of a man. The funeral will be in the chapel of A. S. Turner & Sons at 11 a.m. Monday, March 17th, Rev. Benno Pattison officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p. m. Sunday at A. S. Turner & Sons.