Stanley Altman, 98, passed peacefully Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in his home on St. Simons Island.
Born in Pierce County, July 31, 1924, on a family farm, he was as hard-working as they came. He joined the Navy after his 17th birthday (July 31, 1941) with his mother’s consent, less than four months before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Serving as a gunner’s mate while still 17, a German submarine torpedoed his first Liberty ship, the USS Thomas McKean, in the Caribbean Sea. After being rescued five days later, and two weeks of rest and relaxation in the U.S., he went on to serve on four other Liberty ships, making a dozen crossings. He enjoyed seeing the world and was incredibly proud of his service, wearing his World War II Veteran hat every chance he could.
After his military service, he returned to south Georgia, where he went to work for Southern Bell. He retired from Southern Bell after 40 years. In addition to his day job, he was a Grand Life Master in duplicate bridge. He taught lessons for many years, which is how he met his late wife, Margaret. Together, they traveled the world playing bridge and became known throughout the Golden Isles for their skill and willingness to share their knowledge. After 43 years of marriage, he was devastated by Margaret’s death in 2021. Both Stanley and Margaret were beloved by all who knew them, and their absence will be felt forever.
Survivors include his sister, Mary Sprott and her husband Steven; their daughter, Donna Sedevie; granddaughter Alexandra Sedevie and her husband Ryan Williams; their son, Jon Sprott and his wife Michelle, grandsons Jacob and Henry; his step-daughter, Stacy Jennings and her husband Skip, their children, Margaret Nolan Balkcom and her husband Will and Alexandra Landen and her husband Zack; his step-son John David Tyre and his wife Lisa, and their daughter Rachel Tyre and many friends and neighbors who will cherish memories made with Stanley throughout his almost 99 years on this earth.
Services will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made in Stanley’s name to the Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge Club (114 Skylane Drive, St. Simons Island, 31522 Attn: Treasurer) or the Coastal Georgia Historical Society’s World War II Home Front Museum (P.O. Box 22136, St. Simons Island, 31522).
Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home of Brunswick is in charge of arrangements.
