Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jan. 10, 2015.
William B. Petry died 1/8/2015. He was born in Jacksonville,
FL on 8/15/1931. Son of Richard and Susie Petry. He and his wife, Ann
Strickland, both graduated from Florida State University. After graduating
he received his commission as an officer in the USAF. Upon completion of
his active service duty he and Ann founded "Camp Crusoe" a scuba diving
camp for teenagers and later a small resort for adults on the island of
Tobago in the Caribbean. After 20 years they closed the resort and moved to
Atlanta. Bill was employed in the family finance business and eventually
retired as its president. In Atlanta he was very active in his college
fraternity, Sigma Chi, where he served as president of the Atlanta alumni
and was selected as a member of the Order of Constantine by the Sigma Chi
Fraternity. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Buckhead,
Atlanta. He was a long standing member of the Capitol City Club. After
retiring he and Ann moved to Lagrange, GA to Ann's old homestead and
started the Liberty Hill Christmas Tree Farm. He was a member of the First
United Methodist Church of Lagrange. He is survived by his loving wife of
61 years Ann Strickland, his sons William B. Petry Jr, (Page) and Robert S.
Petry (Lynda), a brother Richard A. (Dick) and Mary Petry of Jacksonville,
Fl., numerous grandkids and great grandkids, and nieces and nephews. He was
preceded in death by his son Stephen G. Petry.