Willner Bradley Houze, Jr. (Bill) was born November 7, 1942 in LaGrange, GA. and died March 1, 2017 at West Georgia Hospice.  He was the son of Willner Bradley Houze, Sr. and Mary Lola Stitt Houze.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church.  Bill graduated from LaGrange High in 1961, attended Georgia Tech and graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.  After college he joined the United States Naval Reserves and was activated during the Vietnam War.  During the time he was in the reserves he went to work as Controller for R. C. Hassler Wholesale Appliance Company and later moved to Columbus, GA to open McDuff Appliance Store.  After closing the appliance business he went into the insurance business working for T. Sam Rawls, Jr. representing National Life of Vermont.

In 1976, he moved back to LaGrange and started Houze and Associates, Inc.  In 1978, he married Charlotte and they started their wonderful life together.

Bill’s first office was upstairs on Main Street in the Holmes Building.  He later moved over what was then Boyette Furniture Company on the Square. After staying there for a few years, he bought the Herring House on Church Street.  Bill enjoyed remodeling, and so undertook redoing the house.  He and Charlotte would work long hours at night tearing out walls and talking about what memories the old house held.  At one time, Bill was a pipe smoker and inherited a pipe collection from an uncle that contained more than 700 pipes.  He has a wall in his conference room that holds more than 300 of the more unusual ones.

Bill was very active in local organizations.  He has served on the Downtown Development Committee, President of the Life Underwriters Association, and Troup County Republican Party.  He was Chairman of the Third Congressional District Republican Party from 1983-85, and was a member of the Electoral College that voted for President Ronald Reagan in 1984.  He has personally met President Richard Nixon, President Ronald Reagan, and President George H. W. Bush, Sr.

During his 41 year insurance career, he has won numerous awards with multiple companies that he has represented.  He was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table, Court of the Table and Top of the Table.

He was an avid Georgia Tech Yellowjacket fan and has attended most of the home football games over the last 30 years.  He was always delighted when Georgia Tech beat UGA.  Bill’s main hobby was working at Houze and Associates, Inc.  His office staff was like a family to him and he enjoyed going to the office every day and seeing them and working with them.  When he wasn’t working, he loved to travel, and he and Charlotte were very fortunate to have had the opportunity to see many countries.  Some on conventions with insurance companies, and others with just wonderful friends. His most cherished times was when he was with his family and enjoying his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte McGee Houze; daughters, Stacey Weldon (Jason), LaGrange, GA, Kimberly Houze (Kelvin Briscoe), Canton, GA;  son, Jeff Houze (Rachel), Los Angeles, CA;  grandsons, Towns Weldon, Leo Houze, Roman Houze; granddaughter, Gwynn Weldon; sister, Elizabeth Kelly, LaGrange, GA , a niece and nephew.

The visitation will be at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, LaGrange, GA on Saturday, March 4, 2017, 5:00 to 7:00pm.

The Celebration of Life Service will be in the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, LaGrange, GA, Sunday, March 5, 2017, 3:00pm.  A private family memorial will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to West Georgia Health Foundation, with designation for either the Radiation Oncology Department or West Georgia Hospice, 1514 Vernon Road LaGrange, GA 30240.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636