Ludy Werts

Ludy Randolph Werts, 75, of Prosperity, died Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at his residence.

Born on April 29, 1947, in Newberry, he was the son of the late Horace Middleton and Annie Louise Rister Werts.  He attended St. Philip’s Elementary, Pomaria Grammar School, Pomaria High School and graduated in 1965 from Mid Carolina High School.

Mr. Werts served with the US Navy from 1965 to 1971 having served aboard the USS Coontz DLG-9 and the USS O’Callahan DE 1051. He saw search and rescue operations while serving aboard the USS Coontz in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War.In 1968 he was on the Commission of the O’Callahan in Boston. He presently was a member of the Coontz and O’Callahan Associations and a member of the Michigan Overseas Veteran Association.  Mr. Werts is a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, John M. Kinard Camp.

He served the St. Philip’s Fire Department since 1975 and in 2006 was named the Fireman of the Year for Newberry County.

He contributed greatly to the sports programs in Mid Carolina School district.  He served for 49 years as a  cameraman with the football program, was the clock operator for the Varsity, Jr. Varsity and Middle School basketball teams. He likewise served as a gatekeeper for baseball for 50 years. Besides assisting the Middle Carolina Schools he also was cameraman for the Newberry College football team for 16 years.   Mr. Werts had served as the treasurer of the Mid Carolina Booster Club since its inception. He was inducted into the Boys Basketball Hall of Fame 2006-2007 and received the Newberry County Touch Down Achievement Award in Football in 2005.

Mr. Werts retired from the Newberry Electric Cooperative in 2009 after 39 years of dedicated service where he was the Meter Department Supervisor.

He took great pride in being a platelet donor who contributed over 400 donations to the American Red Cross in Columbia.

Mr. Werts was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

He is survived by a number of cousins.  He was predeceased by a sister, Barbara Metts.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, December 19, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery by the Rev. Gary Bradenburg and the Rev. Linda Dunn.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2496 SC Highway 773, Pomaria, SC 29126.

Active pallbearers will be Dana Werts, Terry Werts, Chris Graham, Lindsay Stribble, Jackie Harris and Gary Wilbanks.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ray Cooper, Tammy Wilson, Terry Murphy, Jeff Kinard, and members of the St. Philip’s Fire Department and the coaches of Mid Carolina School District.