Theo Milton Rousey, 79, of Tifton died Thursday, August 5, 2010, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 7, 2010, at Liberty Baptist Church. Rev. Steve Tucker and Rev. Gary Cadwell will officiate with burial to follow in Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery. Ricky Dean, Mark Dean, Simmy McKeown, Wayne Stone, Dane Roberts and Ricky Fletcher will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be former ball players that Mr. Rousey coached. The family will receive friends on Friday, August 6, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
Mr. Rousey was born on March 24, 1931 in Oglethorpe County and was the son of Theo Noel Rousey and Gladys Nevada Rousey, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Archie Rousey; and one sister, Patsy Rousey. He was a retired mechanic with the Tift County Road Department and a member of Liberty Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Army for two years and retiring from the National Guard after 24 years. He coached Little League baseball for 30 years and loved gardening and watching the Atlanta Braves.
Mr. Rousey is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lillie Horton Rousey of Tifton, who he married on January 26, 1954; one son and daughter-in-law, William “Milton” and Diane Rousey of Tifton; one sister, Annie Henderson of Tifton; one sister-in-law, Betty Jo Rousey of Tifton; three daughters, Vickey Lynn Rousey, Debra M. Rousey and Nevada Ann Rousey, all of Tifton; and four grandchildren, Christopher Milton Rousey, William Milton “Will” Rousey, Jr., Rachel Shannon Rousey and Nichole Holstead and her husband, Matt.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International, Tifton Gideon Camp, P. O. Box 7051, Tifton, GA 31793; or the Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund, 1290 Jacob Hall Road, Tifton, GA 31794.