VARNVILLE - The Honorable Clyde A. Eltzroth, widower of Sara Platts Eltzroth, died Monday, March 01, 2010 in the Hampton Regional Medical Center in Varnville after a brief illness. He was Resident Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit from 1975 until his retirement.
Clyde Alfred Eltzroth was born July 10, 1916, in McElroy, Louisiana, and his family moved to Varnville the following March with the Big Salkehatchie Lumber Company. He graduated from Varnville High School in 1932 and married Sara Platts in 1937. Other than for brief periods while he was in college, working as an engineer with the South Carolina Highway Department, and in the U.S. Navy (1944-1946), Varnville was his home.
After World War II, Clyde was appointed Tax Collector for Hampton County. From 1946 until 1953, he collected current taxes as well as back taxes that Hampton County citizens couldn't pay during the 1925-45 Depression.
At night, Clyde studied law in Randolph (Buster) Murdaugh's office and from 1952 until 1975, they practiced law as Murdaugh, Eltzroth, and (J. Robert, Jr.,) Peters. He represented Hampton County in the South Carolina Legislature, 1961-64; was organizing chairman of the Salkehatchie Community Actions Agency, (1965-67); served on the Board of Visitors at Clemson University; was member and Chairman of the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Commission (1967-1973); and in 1975, was elected 14th Judicial Circuit Judge by the General Assembly. He also served as a Special Circuit Judge from 1980 until 1991.
Clyde Eltzroth was named as conservationist of the Year for 1968 by the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and Hampton County's Outstanding Citizen, 1975, by the Hampton County Rotary Club. In 1972 the Clyde A. Eltzroth Administration Building at Fort Johnson Marine Research Center was dedicated. Destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1990, the building was re-built and re-dedicated in 1992. He was instrumental in establishing Lake Warren in Hampton County, the Marine Resources Center in Charleston, and the graduate degree in Wildlife Management at Clemson University. A portrait of Judge Eltzroth hangs in the courtroom of the Hampton County Courthouse. He loved nature, being out of doors, and fishing and hunting with family and friends. In 2007 he was awarded a certificate for 61 years of continuous membership by the American Legion Post 108 of Hampton.
Clyde Eltzroth was the son of the late Clyde (Jack) Eltzroth of Whitman County, Washington, and Angele Crosby Eltzroth Pinckney of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, Varnville and Hardeeville, SC and is the stepson of the late Eustace Bellinger Pinckney. Clyde was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hampton.
Surviving are: Two daughters and sons-in-law, Rose-Marie and Hampton (Bill) Williams of Abbeville and Mt. Pleasant, Judith and John Perryman of Troy, Michigan and his son and daughter-in-law, Clyde A. (Jack) and Emily Eltzroth of Varnville and one sister-in-law, Irene P. Smith of Batesburg-Leesville. There are 7 grandchildren, Shellie Williams, Angele Robertson, Sara Perryman, John M. Perryman, III, Clyde A. (Clay) Eltzroth, III, Nyle Jackson Eltzroth, Mim Eltzroth and 6 great grandsons. He is also survived by his niece, Patricia Gill and her husband Harold of Atlanta as well as his nieces and nephews by marriage to whom he was devoted.
He was predeceased by his wife of 72 years, his parents, stepfather, and his sister and brother-in-law, Judith and James B. Seckinger; his brothers-in-laws, Carl Francis Platts and Trowbridge Platts and his sister-in-law, Louise P. Barnes.
The Eltzroth family is very grateful to Clyde's caregiving team for the love, compassion, loyalty, and professionalism with which they cared for him: Linda Smith, Kezia Fennell, Gloria Busby, Yolanda Pinckney, Annie Rice, Cora Morgan, Danny Joe Green and Charlie Boles. The family appreciates the time, love and energy of Maxie Lee Harper, Jill Knight, family and friends who contributed to the well being and quality of life of Clyde.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 5, 2010 at 2 PM in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hampton, conducted by Father Carl Bauer. Burial will follow in the Varnville Cemetery in Varnville.
Friends may call Thursday evening from 4 until 8 PM and from 12:30 until 1:30 Friday prior to the service at Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home, 300 Mulberry Street West, Hampton, SC 29924 (803-943-3352).
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his memory may be directed to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 106 Johnstone Street, Hampton, SC 29924.
Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home of Hampton is in charge of the arrangements.