Wyatt Eugene Harper III of Dickson, Tennessee passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022, he was 75 years old.
Wyatt was born December 28, 1946, in Fort Pierce, FL, to the late Wyatt Eugene Harper Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Bennett Harper.
He was drafted in September 1968 but signed up for the delayed enlistment program. He entered on November 5, 1968, at Ft. Holabird, MD, then began active duty and basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, on January 5, 1969. After completion of Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK, he became commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on October 31, 1969.
He then completed Signal Officer Basic training at Fort Gordon, GA, Parachute School at Fort Benning, GA, and service with the 1/17 Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. He went to the Republic of Vietnam where he served with the 4/503rd Infantry Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade at LZ North English and LZ English in Binh Dinh Province, RVN, as the Signal Officer from October 21, 1970, to August 23, 1971as a 1st Lieutenant. He returned to Fort Campbell, KY, and served with the 3/187th Infantry Brigade and 501st Signal Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, then released from active duty on September 4, 1973, as a Captain. He was also in Reserve duty with the 10th Special Forces (Reserves) AL, 101st Airborne Division Fort Campbell, KY, and Army Computer Systems Command, Fort Belvoir, VA, until released from Active Reserves as a Major effective January 9, 1989.
Wyatt was a man of many accomplishments, a small business owner and entrepreneur. He received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College in Amherst, MA, and his master’s degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN, where, as a dorm dad earned the nickname “Rat Man” due to his psychological studies and experiments. At that time, he also worked in psychological testing and evaluations at Goodlark Medical Center and a psychiatric practice.
In the early 1980’s he began working with microcomputers and founded Business & Professional Computers (B&PC). He was also the proud owner of a Radioshack dealership in Dickson, TN, for nearly 40 years (and counting) as well as one in Smyrna, TN, for a period. He was an avid player of the lap dulcimer, playing many Hymns and Christmas songs.
He served two terms as the Commander of the Dickson American Legion Post 115. He loved to fly and had his instrument rating as a private pilot, flying across the United States on business trips for B&PC. He and his wife Eileen started Match Point Tennis, a nonprofit in Dickson, TN. He was a member of the St. James Episcopal Church and recently celebrated his 36th Wedding Anniversary with Eileen.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law; Marv Levitov.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years; Eileen Elizabeth Lynch Harper of Dickson, TN, Son; Wyatt Eugene Harper IV (Amanda & Luca Cole) of Wimberley, TX, brothers; Bill (Doreen) Harper of Lorton, VA, Bennett Harper (Fongsanith) of Richmond, VA, sisters; Virginia Harper (Michael Lambert) of Fort Myers, FL, Wendy Levitov of Alexandria, VA, Sally Bulkley (Hugh) of St. Croix, USVI, numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.
Funeral services with Military Honors will be held Sunday, July 31, 2022, at 3:00 pm from the chapel of the Taylor Funeral Home, with family members officiating. Visitation with the family will begin at 12:00pm until the time of service. Interment will be in the Middle TN Veteran’s Cemetery, on August 11, 2022 at 10:00 am. http://taylorsince1909.com
For those desiring, memorials can be made to St. James Episcopal Church at 205 Church St, Dickson, TN 37055.
For more obituaries visit https://dicksoncountysource.com/obituaries/
