Obituary of Willie R. Aaron

WEST COLUMBIA—Funeral services for Willie R. Aaron, Jr., 76, of West Columbia, will be held 3:00 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2014 at Whaley Street United Methodist Church, 517 Whaley Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Pastors Reginald "Rex" Wilson, Jr. and Noble Miller will officiate. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will greet friends from 2-3:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29073 will assist the family. Mr. Aaron, beloved husband of Sherrell Brown Aaron for 50 years, passed away on Monday, June 2, 2014. Born in Columbia, he was a son of the late Willie R. Aaron and Ostelle Rafter Aaron. He was a member of Whaley Street United Methodist Church. Willie, also affectionately known as "Joe" or "Bill" was a 1956 graduate of Olympia High School; he served 11 years in the South Carolina Air National Guard and was activated in 1961 during the Berlin Crisis. He worked at Columbia Supply Company for 25 years and retired from Wilder Motor and Equipment Company as Vice President in 2000, after 26 years of service. He was an avid golfer, NASCAR Fan, Gamecock Fan and enjoyed yard work. Surviving are his sons, James Michael "Jim" Aaron (Jennifer) of O'Fallon, MO and Stephen Todd "Steve" Aaron of West Columbia; four grandchildren, Alia and Joelle Aaron and Madison and Jackson Aaron; sister, Reverend Linda A. Rickman (Reverend Cary) of Jackson, MS; also survived by his loving dog, Sadie and by a large and loving extended family. The family would like to thank the staff of Tri-County Hospice for their special care, especially Mary, Melanie, Johnny Mae and his hospice Chaplain. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Whaley Street United Methodist Church, 517 Whaley Street, Columbia, SC 29201.