Obituary of W.T. Fort, Jr.

William Thomas Fort, Jr., 78, husband of Martha Jayne DuBose Fort, died on January 14, 2017 at Oconee Hospital in Seneca, SC due to complications following a short battle with liver cancer. Mr. Fort was born on August 2, 1938 in Sumter, SC to William Thomas and Mary Nell McClam Fort. He graduated from Edmunds High School, Sumter, SC in 1956 and Clemson University, Clemson SC with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1960 where he was a member of the Numeral Society and served as Editor of the 1960 Taps. He married Martha Jayne DuBose in 1962. He served in the US Air National Guard and was stationed at Morón Air Base, Spain until his father’s death in 1962. At this time he returned to Sumter to run the family business, Fort Roofing and Sheet Metal Works, Inc. which he successfully operated until his retirement in 2005. He is a former member of Sumter County Council, past president of the Carolinas Roofing and Sheet Metal Association, past president of the National Roofing Contractors Association, former member of IPTAY Board of Directors, the Sumter Rotary Club, and he was a member of the Mt. Vernon Coffee Club. He also served as a Deacon in the First Presbyterian Church, Sumter, SC and most recently a member of Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, Clemson, SC. His personal passions included scuba diving, underwater photography, saltwater fishing, golf and was an avid supporter of Clemson University. Mr. Fort is survived by his wife of 54 years, his sons William Thomas Fort, III (Kim) of Sumter, SC, Jefferson DuBose (Suzanne) of Mount Pleasant, SC and Andrew Carr (Heather) of Roswell, GA; and five grandchildren: DuBose, Craig, Carlie, Mary Bostic and Andrew. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: Lewis Heyward and Melvin David. A memorial service will take place on Tuesday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, Clemson, SC. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Sumter, SC. The family will receive friends following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.