Dr. William Edgar Salter Jr.

Dr. William E. Salter, Jr., died peacefully on November 14, 2013 after several years of declining health. The Burial of the Dead Service will be held at 2p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2013 at St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church in Columbia, S.C. with a reception to follow in Sturtevant Hall. A private burial will be held at a later date. Dr. Salter was born in the old Columbia Hospital in 1925. He was the son of William E. Salter and Florence Coleman Salter. He was predeceased by his first wife Adelia (Dee Dee). He is survived by his present wife, Marion W. Salter; two sons, William Edgar Salter III, and Dr. Richard B. Salter (Betsy), and a grandson Lee; also, three step children ,James E. Wilson (Cathy), Betsy Smith (Jay), Caroline Jones (Hunter); step grandchildren, , John Edmunds Wilson and Nazley Wilson of Columbia, Maggie Smith and Grant Smith of Matthews, N.C. , Lauren Jones and Blake Jones of Houston, TX;, and a niece Ellen Penniman (Alan). Dr. Salter graduated from Brookland -Cayce High School in 1942 and immediately enrolled in the U.S.C. School of Pharmacy. His education was interrupted in 1944 when he joined the U.S. Army where he served for three years, with one year being spent in the Philippines as a 1st Lieutenant during WWII. He resumed his education after being discharged from the U.S. Army and graduated from U.S.C. in 1948. He opened Purity Drug Store in Eau Claire after graduation. One year later he entered University of Louisville Dental School and graduated with a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1953. He practiced dentistry in Columbia, S.C. for over 45 years. He was a member of the American Dental Association, S.C. Dental Association and Columbia Dental Society where he served as an officer. He was also a member of the Greater Columbia Dental Society and Mid-Carolina Study Club. He was a former member and officer of the Columbia Civitan Club where he served as President and past Governor of the S.C. District of Civitan. Dr. Salter loved being a dentist and his patients knew he was nearby when they heard him whistling. After the loss of his hearing from Meniere’s Disease, he was unable to whistle again. He loved playing golf and was a long time member and former Board Member of Columbia Country Club. Due to Bill’s many years of suffering with Meniere’s Disease, and his desire to assist others in the future, he agreed to donate his temporal bones for medical research at the time of his death. Dr. Salter was a loyal fan of Gamecock sports for his entire adult life. He had the privilege of traveling with the basketball team for many years while Frank McGuire was head coach. During that period he developed lifelong friendships with many of the McGuire era players especially Bobby Cremins, Kevin Dunleavy and George Felton among others. USC recognized him with the “Fantastic Fan Award” in 2011. He was formerly a member of North Trenholm Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He joined St. Michael and All Angels’ after his marriage to Marion Wilson. Bill was very active there serving on the Vestry, Endowment Fund, Finance Committee and the Men’s Breakfast Cooking Team. His passion for gardening was shown by the endless hours he spent working on the Beautification Project and Connell Garden at St. Michael’s. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Beautification Project (Garden) at St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church, 6408 Bridgewood Rd., Columbia, S.C. 29206. The family wishes to express special thanks to S.C. Oncology; Dusty and Anne: Tri County Hospice, especially Vanessa, Maggie and Sue: The staff at Wildewood Downs and Dr. James Bauknight.

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Dr. William Edgar Salter Jr.

August 5, 1925 - November 14, 2013