More detail on this person: William F. (Bill)
Laidlaw HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC William
Francis (Bill) Laidlaw, 76, of Hilton Head Island,
SC died Sunday morning, June 30, 2013 at Spanish
Oaks Retreat in Savannah, GA. Bill was born
February 10, 1937, in Cortland, NY. He grew up in
Syracuse, NY attending Percy Hughes and Edward
Smith schools and Nottingham High School. An
accomplished saxophonist, Bill had his own band,
The Keynotes while in high school. A 1959 graduate
of Syracuse University, he was a member of Delta
Upsilon Fraternity, rowed on the 1956 IRA
championship freshman shell, and marched with the
S.U. band at the 1959 Cotton Bowl. Through ROTC,
he earned his civilian pilots license and was
commissioned a 2nd lieutenant. As an Army
helicopter pilot, Bill first served in West
Germany and then with the 1st Air Cavalry in
Vietnam, leaving the army with a rank of Captain,
before entering civilian life with a long career
in sales and management. While stationed at Fort
Knox, KY, he met and married Mary Mattingly
Monohan of Louisville, KY on June 11, 1960; they
just celebrated their 53rd anniversary. The couple
moved to Hilton Head Island, SC from Charlotte, NC
in 1979 and owned Mary Matt, Inc., a custom
drapery workroom, until retiring in 2005. Bill had
a long, wonderful history of singing bass as a
barbershopper and was a member of the Hilton
Head Rebel Rousers quartet. He was preceded in
death by his parents, Carlton B and Hazel Laidlaw
of Syracuse, NY and a son, Gregory Laidlaw. He is
survived by his wife, Mary Matt and three
children: Sara Laidlaw Woodruff (Mark), Martha
Laidlaw Pollex and Stephen D. Laidlaw (Beth) and a
beloved granddaughter, Amber Pollex Boulware
(Troy). A memorial service will be held at 11
o'clock, Friday July 5, 2013 at Copeland Funeral
Service in Beaufort, SC. Interment with military
honors will follow at the Beaufort National
Cemetery. Please share your thoughts about Mr.
Laidlaw and his life at
www.gamblefuneralservice.com
Published in The Island Packet from July 4 to
August 4, 2013
Burial information: Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, SC
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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