William Frederick “Bill” Andrews, 76, of Edisto Beach, SC died unexpectedly on January 12, 2023 while recovering from open-heart surgery. An Ohio native, he was able to live his lifetime dream to retire at Edisto Beach.
Bill, an exceptional husband, father, grandfather, and friend, was born January 7, 1947 in Massillon, Ohio, the son of the late John and Ruby Andrews of Beach City, OH. He was a graduate of Fairless High School and received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University.
Prior to retirement, Bill was employed as Plant Manager of Emerson Climate Technologies in Sidney, OH. Previously, he worked in various engineering and managerial positions with Küsters Corporation, Beverage-Air, and Toledo Scale in Spartanburg, SC, and Western Electric in Columbus, OH.
Bill is survived by his wife, Darlinda Smith “Iddy” Andrews, whom he married on June 14, 1970; son, Brent William (Christina), who earned his Bachelors in ecology from the University of Georgia, works in senior care as a Director of Dining Services in Marietta, GA, and retains his passion for creating great meals; daughter, Kimberly Marie who earned her Bachelors, Masters, and PhD in ecology from the University of Georgia, is on faculty with the University of Georgia, and involved with numerous herpetology projects in the US and Costa Rica; a grandson, Patton Smith Andrews; and two brothers, Thomas John Andrews and Frederick Walter “Fritz” Andrews, both of Beach City, OH.
At Ohio State, Bill was President of the Iota Chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity and elected into the Archons Greek honorary. In Spartanburg, he was a founding member of the Reidville Road United Methodist Church, active with the Middle Tyger Lions Club, and an alumnus of Leadership Spartanburg. In Shelby County, OH, he was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, president of The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Shelby County, an alumnus of Leadership Shelby County, and served as Chairman of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.
After retirement to South Carolina, Bill was the current President of Edisto Island FRESPACE and a member of the Blowhards at Edisto Beach State Park where he and his wife blew off the hiking trails. He was the former chair of the Edisto Beach Planning Commission, member of the Edisto Preservation Society, and the Edisto Island Historical Society. He also was an Edisto Beach State Park Sea Turtle Volunteer and held lifetime memberships in The Ohio State University Alumni Association and The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Shelby County, OH.
Bill retained his passion for his family, playing sports with his grandson, Patton, The Ohio State Buckeyes, traveling the world, woodworking, and Edisto Island. He gladly donated his time to any cause that would help ensure Edisto remains a family beach. His final days were spent living his dream on the Island with his wife, Iddy, of 52 years. Memorials may be made to FRESPACE (an environmental, non-profit support group for the Edisto Beach State Park), P.O. Box 523, Edisto Island, SC 29438. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
