A memorial service to honor the life of William Patrick “Pat” Wylie, 76, of Camden, SC, will be held at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Grace Episcopal Church. Pat died Monday, September 11, 2017. Rev. Pickett Wall and The Very Rev. S. Scott Hunter will officiate. Kilts and other appropriate Scottish Attire are welcomed. The family will receive friends from 4:30-6:00 PM Friday, September 15, 2017 at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 1315 Lyttleton Street, Camden, SC or the James K. Copenhaver Alumni Band Scholarship Fund c/o USC School of Music.

Born in Greenville, SC, Pat was the son of the late William Brown Wylie and Frances Stewart Wylie of Pickens, SC. He attended Furman University in Greenville, SC, meeting the love of his life, Nancy Carlton, and receiving a B.A. in Music Education. Following this, he served in the US Army as an officer in the Adjutant General Corps. Pat started his public education career as Band Director at Slater-Marietta High School while still completing his degree at Furman University. He then was the Band Director at Airport High School and R. H. Fulmer Junior High School. He was the first white teacher at Lakeview High School in Lexington County District #2, thus beginning the integration process in that district. His Masters in Music Education was from the University of South Carolina where became Associate Director of Bands. From 1972 until retirement in 1997, he taught at Camden Middle School as Band Director, He assisted with the Camden High School Scarlet Regiment with Bill Basden and Robert Wertz. Following his retirement from public education, he continued to serve the music community with Pecknel Music. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, serving throughout the years as the choir director and as the first Verger to serve in that Parish.

Pat dedicated his life to the education of our youth and to the development of the arts. He served his profession on national and state levels including the National Band Association Board of Directors and is a Past President of the SCBDA. He was selected as a member of the Hall of Fame of the SCBDA, the SCMEA and Phi Beta Mu Music Fraternity. He was awarded the NBA Citation of Excellence for performance numerous times. He held memberships in Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association, South Carolina Band Directors Association, South Carolina Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and is a lifetime member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. He founded and conducted the Camden Community Concert Band, and conducted the Camden Rotary Singers. Many of his community and school groups performed for numerous professional organizations, and at the Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Extravaganza at Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. Many young musicians across the Southeast were influenced by his affiliation with the University of South Carolina Band program. For many years, he, with his wife Nancy, was responsible for operation of USC music camps and USC music clinics for 25 years. In addition, he served as conductor of musical groups at Music Clinics and Summer Band Camps, as a mentor to University students and student participants and as a regular announcer for concerts. Pat was the Voice of the Carolina Band. He loved his family, his friends, his church, and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Mr. Wylie is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Nancy Carlton Wylie; son, Carl “Chris” Wylie (Kim) of Mauldin; daughter, Beth Wylie Poag (Charlie) of Sumter; grandchildren, Nancy Holroyd “Holly” Poag and James Patrick “Jack” Poag; and nieces and nephews, Emma, Sam, Adam and Seth; brothers-in-law, Robert C. Carlton of Grand Rapids, MI and David L. Carlton of Nashville, TN.

Pat was predeceased by his brother, James Thomas Wylie.

Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements.  Online condolences may be sent to the Wylie family by visiting www.kornegayfuneral.com

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