Levy Hoats, Sr.

Mr. Levy Irvin Hoats, Sr., age 95, entered into eternal rest Thursday morning, January 2, 2020, at his home in Hampton.

Born September 8, 1924, in Walterboro, South Carolina, he was a son of the late Hugh Hamilton Hoats and the late Gillie Davis Hoats.  Levy was a farmer and a logger, having been drafted at the age of eighteen into World War II, serving faithfully in the United States Army.  He was sent to Little Rock Arkansas for training and to England, and then on to France, where he served with the Medical Corps until his discharge in March of 1946.   He worked in logging following that until 1948, then worked at the Service Station in Varnville for a short period of time and married Guelda Robinson on September 2, 1949 in Varnville.   He graduated from Barber School and attended Armstrong Junior College.  During that time he worked with Home Furnishing Company in Savannah.  He moved back to Varnville in Novmber of 1951 to work with Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Hampton, where he became a Tool Diemaker Complex. He worked there from 1951 until 1989 when he retired on September 1, 1989 with thirty-eight years of service.   He later returned to Westinghouse  to serve as a consultant for J.H. Wood. 

He was a member of the Varnville First Baptist Church.  He was member and served as President for twenty-five years for Local 3130.   He possessed an avid love for camping and was a member and past president of the former “Skeeter Scratchers” camping club.   He was also a member of the National Kiers Assocation.  In his earlier years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.  Over the years he had cows and chickens, of which he dearly loved.

Surviving are: his wife of seventy years, Mrs. Guelda Robinson Hoats; a son, Levy Irvin Hoats, Jr. of Hampton; a daughter, Angela Hoats Gantt and her husband Steve of Ocoee, Florida; five grandchildren, Michelle Jacobs, Amanda DeLoach, Darryl Hoats, Daniel Tyler Gantt, and Stephanie Adkins; and six great g randchildren, Trenton DeLoach, Brandon DeLoach, Kaylee DeLoach, Billy Koon, Kellin Adkins, and Kyle Adkins.  He was preceded in death by a son, Joseph H. Hoats; a daughter-in-law, Deborah Jenkins Hoats; two brothers, Hugh Hoats and Louie G. Hoats; and a sister, May Garvin. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to: Varnville First Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 165 East Palmetto Avenue, Varnville, South Carolina 29944.

Funeral services will be conducted 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon, January 5, 2020, from Varnville First Baptist Church, 165 East Palmetto Avenue, Varnville.  The Reverend Dr. Thomas Kelly officiating.  Interment with Military Honors will follow in Varnville Cemetery, Pine Street, Varnville.   The family will receive friends prior to the funeral ceremony Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:30pm in the church santuary. 

Arrangements by:  THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, VARNVILLE-HAMPTON CHAPEL, 1074 Yemassee Highway, Varnville 803.943.5016.  Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

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