Lt. Col. Doyce W. Ariail Jr. Ret.

September 4, 1937 - April 5, 2009

Funeral Services for Lt. Col. Doyce W. Ariail Jr. Ret. will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 4:00 PM at Climax United Methodist Church with Rev. Lynn Hurley and Rev. Wayne MacDonald officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery with full Military Honors, with Lt. Col. Thomas Ariail Ret., Donal Chip Ariail, Scott Ariail, Patrick Ariail, Thommy Ariail, Howard Newberry, and Bobby Palmer serving as active pallbeares. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Climax United Methodist Men. Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 7, 2009 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Cox-Ware Funeral Home Chapel. Lt. Col. Ariail was born September 4, 1937, in Greenville, SC to the now late Doyce William Sr. and Helen Claire Spearman Ariail. He graduated from Sevier County High School in Sevierville, TN and Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army serving in Vietnam earning the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit medals. He was a member of Climax United Methodist Church, Climax United Methodist Men, Climax Community Club, the Decatur County Veterans Memorial Committee, and the Cedar Grove Cemetery Committee. He initiated the display of U.S. Flags in Climax, and was active in Flag Day Ceremonies in Climax. He also Carried the Olympic Torch of the 1996 Olympic Games. He received a citation from the governor for his work with youth sports and a portion of U.S. Hwy. 84 is named Lt. Col. Doyce Ariail Hwy. Lt. Col. Ariail passed away at his residence in Climax, GA Sunday, April 5, 2009. Memorial Contributions may be made of ALS of Georgia or to Wiregrass Hospice 432 E. Shotwell St. Bainbridge, GA 39819. He is survived by his wife Ann Newberry Ariail of Climax, GA; four sons; Lt. Col. Thomas W. (wife Shari) Ariail Ret. of Dunwoody, GA, Donal Chip (wife Lisa) Ariail of Bainbridge, GA, Scott (wife Anda) Ariail of Orlando, FL, and Patrick (wife Tracy) Ariail of Atlanta, GA; sister; Ellouise (husband Paul) Whaley of Knoxville, TN; brother; Tommy (wife Lawana) Ariail of Spartanburg, SC; six grandchildren; Issabelle, Madeline, Amaia, Ovella, Isa, and Gaius Ariail; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and Shirley Hodge Ariail.