Obituary for Sol Blatt, Jr.
The joy of living ended Wednesday, April 20, 2016 for U.S. Senior District Court Judge Sol Blatt, Jr, 94, of Charleston, SC. Judge Blatt served 45 years as a federal judge in the District of South Carolina, and was the longest serving judge in the 4th Circuit of U.S. Courts. He was nominated for the court in 1971 by President Richard M. Nixon. He served as chief judge from 1986-1990, and senior judge from 1990-2016. Born in Sumter on August 20, 1921, he was the only son of Hon. Solomon Blatt and Ethel Green Blatt. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn Gayden Blatt of Columbia. He attended Barnwell High School, and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1941. While attending Carolina, he served as student body president and was a member of the Euphradian Society. As a member of the University's boxing team, he won the Southern Conference lightweight title. A lifelong supporter of Carolina, he was a former member of the University's Board of Trustees, and was chairman of the board's Intercollegiate Activities Committee. An avid Gamecock, he attended every Carolina-Clemson football game over an 88 year period except for three years due to World War II military service. He was a recipient of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame's Doc Blanchard Leadership Award. Judge Blatt was commissioned an officer in the U.S, Navy during World War II, and served with both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Following the war, he attended the USC School of Law where he earned a JD degree in 1946. Before being appointed to the federal bench, he practiced law in Barnwell with the firm of Blatt and Fales. He was a lifelong member of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Barnwell where he was a past Senior Warden. His tenure on the federal bench would not have been possible without the loyal support and friendship of his assistant for 45 years, Mrs. Janice Pearce, and of the entire staff at the federal courthouse in Charleston that he worked with over the years. Survivors include his son Greg Blatt of Greenville, his daughter Sherry Blatt Hooper and her husband Tee of Greenville, and his son Brian Blatt and his wife Martha of Columbia. His grandchildren are; Molly Blatt of Charleston, Hannah Blatt of Denver, CO, Travis Hooper and his wife Meg of Greenville, Amy H. White and husband Marshall of Winston Salem, NC, and Lee Blatt and his wife Juleah of Blythewood, SC. He is also survived by great granddaughters Ridley, Shelton, Grace, and Liza, and great grandson Hudson. Sol will continue to live through his family, friends and all of the many lives he touched during his life. Visitation will be Saturday, April 23rd from 4 to 6 pm at the Federal Courthouse, 85 Broad St., in Charleston. A graveside service will be performed at 2 pm on Sunday, April 24th at the Church of the Holy Apostles, 9357 Patterson St. in Barnwell, Mole Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Also, there will be a celebration of Judge Blatt's life from 6 to 8 pm on Sunday, April 24th at 701 Sweetbriar Rd. in Columbia. Memorials in his honor of may be made to the Ministerial Association of the Church of the Holy Apostles, 9357 Patterson St., Barnwell, SC 29812,or the Solomon Blatt Scholarship Fund at the University of South Carolina, in care of University Foundations, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, or to the cause or charity of one's choice.
Service:
2:00PM Sunday
April 24, 2016
Graveside Service
Church of the Holy Apostles Cemetery
9357 Patterson St.
Barnwell, SC 29812
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Service:
2:00PM Sunday
April 24, 2016
Graveside Service
Church of the Holy Apostles Cemetery
9357 Patterson St.
Barnwell, SC 29812
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