Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Louis Johnson Wimsatt, 83, a World War II bomber pilot and the former co-owner of a Washington lumber company, died Jan. 1 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington. He lived in Derwood.
Mr. Wimsatt, whose ancestors settled in St. Mary's County in the 17th century, was born in Washington. He was an athletic standout in several sports at Georgetown Preparatory School and was a nationally ranked junior tennis player.
He attended Georgetown University for three years before enlisting in the Army Air Forces during World War II. He was the pilot of a B-24 Liberator with the 44th Bomb Group of the 506th Bomb Squadron in Europe.
His wartime exploits, according to one of his sons, included an emergency landing for repairs in Reims, France. When it came time to leave, he could barely get the aircraft aloft after his crew had loaded it with cases of champagne.
He flew 35 bombing missions over Europe and provided air support during the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged as a first lieutenant and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and four awards of the Air Medal.
After the war, Mr. Wimsatt was a pilot with the old Capital Airlines for several years. He then worked at the Johnson & Wimsatt Lumber Co., of which he was part owner, until he sold his share of the business to his brother in the 1950s. After that, he was a private investor.
Mr. Wimsatt, who was 6 feet 4, was known as "Big Lou" and was considered a master raconteur. He enjoyed visiting diners in Gaithersburg, where he became known as the "unofficial mayor of Gaithersburg."
He was a scratch golfer known for his prodigious drives and belonged to several local golf clubs.
He lived in Chevy Chase from 1948 to 1968, when he moved to Derwood. He was a member of the American Legion and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Washington.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Sarah Mildred Wimsatt of Derwood; nine children, Caroline Scott of McLean, Louis J. Wimsatt Jr. of Charlottesville, John Wimsatt of Washington, Thomas Wimsatt of Westminster, Md., Mark Wimsatt of Rockville, David Wimsatt of Silver Spring, and William Wimsatt, Matthew Wimsatt and Michael Wimsatt, all of Derwood; 19 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.