William Lyle Rountree - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier 2/20/2012

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William Lyle Rountree - Madison Parish, Louisiana

From Tallulah Madison Journal April 26, 1968

William Lyle Rountree

A shocked community learned of the death of "Willie" Rountree Sunday night, April 21, 1968, in the early 
evening hours, after undergoing eye surgery on Friday morning, in Vicksburg, Miss.

He was born in Natchez, 1893, on August 7 to Josias and Georgia Rountree of Vidalia, La. His father, 
a boy during the Civil War, had gone to Vidalia, La. across the river from Natchez as a young man and 
established the Concordia Sentinel during reconstruction days. He had many years later married Georgia 
Ratcliff of Clinton. La. and Willie was their first born. He grew up in Vidalia, learning to hunt and 
fish early, habits which were his recreation until his death. He was valedictorian of his high school 
class, entered Louisiana State University, the next fall. It was the Ole War School then, and he never 
forgot his military training, and had recently attended the yearly meetings in Baton Rouge of the 
Ole War School.

He came to Tallulah in 1913 and took charge of the Madison Journal for his elderly cousin, Josiah Scott, 
publisher of the Tensas Gazette, St. Joseph, La. He purchased the Madison Journal from his cousin in 1917, 
and has continually published the Madison Journal, even during the two floods of his time. A few years 
ago he celebrated his fifty years with the Journal. He was a true man of the public, always respecting 
the opinions of the people whom he chose to serve, as the publisher of the home town paper, even though 
his great talent in engineering might have gotten him more fame and fortune, he chose ever to serve his 
brothers. He was a charter member of Scott-Nichols-Voak Post No. 100 after returning to his work after 
service in World War One. He was the chapter's first adjutant, and by the demands of his fellow Legionnaires, 
remained their adjutant for twenty-five years. He was a Forty et Eight of the Legion. He was a Mason, a 
Rotarian, a member of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Press Association in 1943, and an active 
worker in Trinity Episcopal Church, of which he was senior warden at this time. He had given much time 
and effort to the building of the new church, ironically finished in time for services for this beloved 
man. He sang consistently in the choir of Trinity for thirty-five years. He loved all the finer things 
of life, including good music, which his beloved wife shared with him.

His finest work was with the local Boy Scouts, which he established the first organization and continued as 
Scoutmaster actively with these boys for about fifteen years. He taught many to swim, and the life savers of 
Boy Scouting, he believed everyone should learn to swim, and taught so many young people to swim in our 
locality and at Camp Kiroli, the area scouting camp. His Boy Scouts, and the many boys he treated as sons, 
visited him regularly, seeking our Mr. Willie to talk a bit.

His ringing laugh, his ever good humor, the twinkle in his eyes, combined with his native intelligence, 
his natural dignity, his respect for all mankind, his kindly manner to those who needed him, and his great 
charity of soul will forever be written on the heart of his beloved family and all who really knew him.

A family service at his home on North Cedar Street was conducted by the Rev. Joseph Harrison at nine o'clock. 
Services followed at Trinity, where his family and all his friends gathered to pay their last tribute to him. 
The Rev. Mr. Harrison conducted the burial service of the Episcopal Prayer Book. Mrs. M. A. Phillips at the 
organ played a beautiful prelude of all the hymns Mr. Rountree had sung and loved. Mr. Kirk Morley was Crucifer, 
with Mr. R. C. Gaines assisting in the service. 

Active pallbearers were members of the Vestry, Kirk Morley, Crucifer, R. C. Gaines, Acolyte. Edward Yerger, 
E. C. Woodyear, Carneal Woodyear, M. W. Washburn, Salo Abrahm, Jr., and Mr. Rountree's nephews, J. C. Schiele 
and Fred Schiele.

Besides his wife, the former Rosalie Baird of Natchez, Miss., Mr. Rountree is survived by his two daughters, 
Mrs. Benjamin D. Capshaw, the former Georgia Rountree and Mrs. Edward W. Williams, the former Geneva Rountree. 
His seven grandchildren, Ben Capshaw, III, Clinton Lyle Capshaw, Donna Capshaw, Susan Williams, Bill Williams 
(his namesake), Lane Baird Williams and Edward Lee Williams. One sister survives, Mrs. Edward Schiele of 
Vidalia, La. and his surviving nephews, C. J. Schiele of Ferriday, Fred L. Schiele of Vidalia, Major Joe Scott Schiele 
of Atlanta, Fred Falkenheiner of Vidalia, Percy Rountree, Jr. of Vidalia, La. and James Robertson, Jr. of Lake City, Ark.

Interment was in the Natchez, Miss. Cemetery with the Rev. Joseph Harrison and the honor guard of the American 
Legion conducting the impressive graveside services.