William Relder Wardlaw

Born Sept. 11, 1912

Relder on his wedding day.

FULTON - William Relder Wardlaw, 89, died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001, at the North Mississippi Medical Center after a long illness. He was born Sept. 11, 1912, in Itawamba County to the late James Samuel Wardlaw and Margaret Susan Nanney Wardlaw. He grew up in Itawamba County, then moved to Memphis, where he retired as a switchman for Frisco Railroad. He returned to Fulton after his retirement 26 years ago. He was a member of Fulton United Methodist Church and the Wesley Sunday School Class. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Blue Lodge No. 745. He was a member of the Shriners and the United Transportation Union. He enjoyed gardening and fishing.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Fulton United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ray Stokes and the Rev. Glen Wiygul officiating. Burial will be in Itawamba Memorial Gardens. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home of Fulton is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Ovie Pauline Gilmore Wardlaw of Fulton; two daughters, Betty Jean Wardlaw Cunningham and her husband, John, of Germantown, Tenn., and Wanda Pauline Wardlaw Gaines of New Albany; eight grandchildren, Jamie Dalby, Robert Wardlaw Jr., Martin Wardlaw, Daniel Wardlaw, Ronald Cunningham, Charles Cunningham, Leigh Taylor and Amie Gaines; 19 great-grandchildren, Robert Wardlaw III, Alicia Wardlaw, Kayla Wardlaw, Amy Wardlaw, Martin Wardlaw Jr., Amanda Wardlaw, Joey Wardlaw, Sarah Dalby, Kevin Dalby, Ben Dalby, Jeremy Cunningham, Kimberly Cunningham, Olivia Cunningham, Max Taylor, McCall Taylor, Mills Taylor, John Marshall Taylor, Tyler Cunningham and Nathan Cunningham; one great-great-grandchild, Emma Leigh Wardlaw.

He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Harold Wardlaw, and his parents.

Pallbearers will be Ron Cunningham, Charles Cunningham, Brad Taylor, Martin Wardlaw, Bobby Wardlaw, Daniel Wardlaw, Trey Wardlaw, Kevin Dalby and Ben Dalby.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Wesley Sunday School Class.