William Pearce Zellner

William Pearce Zellner 7-27-1923 – 8-14-2013 Forsyth . . . . Bill was born in Clay County Alabama to Winnie Pearce Zellner of Clay County and John William Zellner of Monroe County, Ga. They moved to Georgia where Bill attended Bank Stephens School and later graduated from Mary Persons High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the European Theater landing at Utah Beach, Normandy France. He received an Honorable Discharge and returned home to Monroe County. He met and married Marjorie Borders Zellner from LaGrange, an R.N. employed at Griffin Hospital. He enrolled at University of Georgia and earned a B.S. Degree in Food Technology. He began a career with Swift Premium Meats and transferred the family several times over the next 16 years. He then left Swift to take a position as Regional Sales Manager for Griffith Laboratories and moved the family from Savannah to Chicago, Ill. then landed in Louisville, KY for the next 8 years. Bill took a risk (as he often did!) to join as a partner in J.F. Schneider and Sons Meat Packing Plant in Middlesboro, Ky. When a partnership opportunity opened with Forsyth Hardware and Furniture Company, Bill and Marjorie moved to family property in Monroe County in 1976 where they were later joined by their four children. Bill could often be found at Lawson & Cromer’s taking a coffee break and chatting with whomever came into the pharmacy. Later, he was often spotted in one of the two Adirondack chairs placed out front; Dr. Walter Bramblett his long time friend occupied the other. When the store closed in 1990, Bill didn’t retire; he started Mar-bil Transportation with two tractor trailers hauling freight. He then bought and operated a dump truck. At the age of 74, “Pops” hauled many an asphalt load to the I-475 project. This proved to be Bill’s favorite job. With constant encouragement from his wife and family, he quit trucking and sold the dump truck. He would spend the next 10 plus years caring for the wife he loved so much. He was a Mason and Al Sihah Shriner, a past Kiwanis member, a commissioned Kentucky Colonel, a past deacon at Sunset Heights Baptist Church, Hialeah, Fl., Memorial Baptist Church, Savannah and Deacon Chairman at Shiloh (Lamar) Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife Marjorie of 68 years, sisters, Margaret Z. Smith, Hazelhurst, Ms., Dorothy Z. Bazemore, Forsyth, and Lucy Z. Stocks (Jimmy) of Forsyth, and many nieces and nephews. He was Bill, Dad, Pops and Big Daddy to his children; Carol Z. Horne (Sinclair), John H. Zellner (Debbie), Nancy Z. Schulz (Rick) and Barbara Z. Goree (Ronnie) all of whom still live on family property in Monroe County. His grandchildren: Todd and Marlys Horne, Atlanta, Jamie and Heidi Horne (Forsyth), John W. Zellner, Forsyth, Wesley and Michele Zellner, Forsyth, Christine and Jon Mitchell, Forsyth, George Schulz, Milledgeville, Sarah Schulz, Macon, Morgan Schulz, Macon and Bradey Lanham, Acworth. His Great-grandchildren: Grace and Pearce Horne, Isabella Zellner, Samuel and Anna Mitchell, and Avery Durry. Bill loved God, his family, Monroe County and his Bulldogs! In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Shiloh Baptist Church, 1530 Hwy 41 South, Barnesville, GA 30204 or to the Alzheimer’s Association. Visitation will be Friday evening, August 16, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Monroe County Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church, 1530 Old Atlanta Hwy. at 11:00 on Saturday, August 18, 2013, with burial in Monroe Hills Memorial Gardens. Rev. Jesse Richardson will officiate. Monroe County Memorial Chapel has charge of arrangements.