Obituary of Dr. Robert Collins Wimberly

Dr. Robert “Bob” Collins Wimberly, 86, husband of Harriette “Sister” Heath Wimberly, died Thursday, December 24, 2020 at his home. Born Oct. 16, 1934, he was a son of the late Ellen Guess Wimberly and Robert Collins Wimberly. Bob spent a wonderful childhood in St Matthews, S.C. with a loving family and his brother, Marvin, and childhood best friend, Mark. He was a quiet-spirited, generous, and humble man who was the strength of his family. He had deep trust in his Lord Jesus Christ. In 1936, Bob's father and his three brothers started the “Wimberly Dinner.” The Wimberly family has met every year on the Sunday before Christmas for 84 years, however, we celebrated this year on Zoom. Surviving are his wife of Sumter; two daughters, who married brothers, Mimi Wimberly Brown (Robby) of Roswell, Ga. and Heathie Wimberly Brown (Gary) of Sumter; 6 grandchildren, Collins Brown (Cassidy), Wilkes Brown (Paige), Grier Brown (Sarah), Wimberly Brown, Mary Heath Clements (Kyle), and Scott Brown; 7 great-grandchildren; a brother, Marvin Guess Wimberly (Carolyn) of St. Matthews, and a brother-in-law, Alfred “Freddie” Taylor Heath III (Sally) of Sumter. Bob graduated from St. Matthews High School in 1952 and attended the University of South Carolina from 1952-1955, where he was No.1 of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity, president of KSK and ODK honorary fraternities. He organized Kappa Alpha of the 1950s reunions for many years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving from 1959-1961. He graduated from Emory University Dental School in 1959, where he was president of XI PSI PHI dental fraternity. Dr. Wimberly came to Sumter to begin his dentistry practice in 1961 and retired in 1999. He was past president of the Pee Dee district dental society, a former member of Trinity United Methodist Church for 44 years and a current member Christ Community Church. He was a member of the Sumter Rotary Club since 1963 where he served as past president from 1981-82. He was named Rotarian of the Year in 2006, a Paul Harris Fellow and had 17 years of perfect attendance. He was named Sumter Gamecock Club Fan of the Year in 2018. He served on the Sumter County Commission of Higher Education from 1982-1990, was the first president of USC- Sumter Associates, a former member of the University of South Carolina Board of Visitors, a member of the Kappa Alpha Court of Honor, the S.C. State Fair Board of Directors from 1990-2020, former member of the NBSC Board of Directors, former vice president of Sumter Fine Arts Council, former member of the board of Sumter Gallery of Art, former board member of Sunset Country Club, member of Les Trente, Thalian, Sumter Assembly and Centurian social clubs. Bob was an avid golfer - having 4 holes in one! He is preceded in death by his beloved golf foursome, Henry Bynum, Dick Harvin, and John Jones. Private Graveside Services will be held in Sumter Cemetery with the Rev. Mark Yoder officiating. Grandsons will serve as Pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Christ Community Church, 320 Loring Mill Rd. Sumter, S.C. 29150, Crosswell Children’s Home, 11 Crosswell Dr. Sumter, S.C. 29150 or to Friends of Swan Lake, PO Box 1754, Sumter, S.C. 29150. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements. 803-775-9386.