Obituary of G. William Oliphant

G.W. Oliphant G. William (Bill) Oliphant, 91, of Signal Mountain, died on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, after a short illness. Born in St. Elmo, TN, he was the son of the late C. Frederick Oliphant, Sr. and Jennie Hamill Oliphant. Bill was drafted at age 17 and served in the United States Army in Europe as a platoon leader in the infantry. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Chattanooga before returning to active duty in Korea from 1950 – 1951. He was discharged from the Army with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He obtained his MBA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1953. On June 19, 1954, Bill married his bride of 62 years Molla Lou Odom of Chattanooga, daughter of the late Benjamin H. and Lyda Wilson Odom at First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga. They moved to Atlanta, GA where Bill worked for Arthur Young and Company. Over his life long career as a certified public accountant, he returned to Chattanooga in 1956 and worked for several Chattanooga CPA firms, a brief stint in the textile industry, and eventually with his own CPA firm, Payne, Miller, and Oliphant. His last stop was Lattimore, Black, Morgan, and Cain from which he retired in 2010 at age 86. Bill enjoyed Big Band music, WWII history, playing and watching tennis, and was an avid reader. Bill is survived by his wife, Lou O. Oliphant, daughter Jennie Lou (Phillip) Goff, of Sykesville, MD; son, Edward (Resha Craven) Oliphant, of Smyrna, TN; three granddaughters, Rachel and Meredith Goff and Corinne Oliphant, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Charles F. Oliphant, Jr. The family will receive friends from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at Wann Funeral Home immediately followed by a graveside service at Forest Hill Cemetery conducted by the Rev. Derrick Hill. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Macular Degeneration Research 22512 Gateway Center Drive Clarksburg, MD 20871. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home and Cremation Center 4000 Tennessee Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37409.