Obituary of David Clagett Waters

David Clagett Waters, 92, of Chapel Hill, NC peacefully passed away on Monday, June 3, 2024 surrounded by his family. He will be remembered for his deep faith in God, encyclopedic knowledge of sports, fascinating stories, and his kindness, generosity and service to others. Born in Germantown, MD, July 26, 1931, David was the son of Eugene Hill Waters and Eloise Clagett Waters. The youngest of four children, David grew up on a family farm outside of Washington, DC. There he cultivated a lifelong love of the outdoors – hunting, fishing and gardening and a passion for sports. He chose his beloved college, UNC, sight unseen, due to listening to Tar Heel football on the radio. He remained an avid Tar Heel sports fan through life. David graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1953. A Political Science major, he wrote for the Daily Tar Heel and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Following graduation, he served as a special agent in the United States Army Counterintelligence Corps prior to beginning a career of more than 35 years with The Procter and Gamble company. While with P&G in Cincinnati he held volunteer leadership roles in both church and civic endeavors; and served his alma mater through membership on the Board of Directors of both the UNC General Alumni Association and the Educational Foundation, organizations in which he continued personal involvement during his retirement years. When he retired from Procter and Gamble in 1991, he and his wife established residence at Pawleys Island, SC, their annual summer destination throughout marriage. David met Marion on Pawleys Island and said he fell in love with both the island and the girl on the same night. At Pawleys Island David was a communicant of All Saints Church where he chaired the cemetery committee, preserving the beauty of the historic grounds. In 2004 David & Marion moved to Chapel Hill. They bought one of the first houses in The Cedars. There he developed abundant friendships and enjoyed easy access to all the Tar Heel games. David was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Kentucky Colonels, the Winyah Indigo Society, the Pawleys Island Yacht Club and the Georgetown Cotillion. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Marion Cathcart Waters; son, David Clagett Waters Jr. (Leslie) of Umatilla, FL; two daughters, Elizabeth Cathcart Waters Sprinkle (Ralph) of Pawleys Island, SC and Marion Eloise Waters Porter (Logan) of Greensboro, NC; seven grandchildren, David Clagett “Clay” III (Lansdon) and Andrew Daniel Waters (Nicole); Elizabeth “Libba” Cathcart Sprinkle; and Marion McMaster, Sarah Frances , Henry Logan and Ruth Waters Porter and two great grandchildren Ellis Clagett and Wyatt Spear Waters. A funeral service will be held on June 8 at 11am at All Saints Church, Pawleys Island. Memorials may be sent to All Saints Church, 3560 Kings River Road, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 or The Salvation Army, PO Box 1330, Durham, NC 27702. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ridgewayfh.com Ridgeway Funeral Home of Georgetown is in charge of the arrangements. (843) 485-4242