Wayne Green, a former two-term city councilman and retired businessman, died unexpectedly at his home Monday. His wife Dawn found him dead in a bathroom when she returned from work. He was 68.

Green retired as owner-operator of Wayne’s Grocery on Highway 36, east of Hartselle, in 2007. Previously, he was associated with his late stepfather Dean Tankersley in the operation of a Shell Service station at the corner of U.S. 31 and Alabama 36 in Hartselle, and he and his brother, the late Jerry Don Green, owned and operated Hartselle Tire Co. in Tanner Heights for a short time. His business career spanned about 37 years.

He also served as an elected municipal official for eight years. He was a member of Hartselle’s city council from 1980 to 1988 and served six years on the Hartselle Planning Commission. He also served a four-year term on the Hartselle Utilities Board.

Exemplifying a strong love for his hometown and a compassion for honesty and integrity in local government, Green made unsuccessful bids for re-election to the council in 1996 and for mayor in 2000.

In both his business and political careers as well as in his retirement, Green demonstrated qualities of patience, humility, generosity and service to others.

“After he retired he started baking pies because he wanted to spend his time being productive,” said Joe Ed Tankersley, a step-cousin and close personal friend. “He would give the pies to his friends and neighbors. If fact, he had a pie in the oven to be baked the day he died.”

Green leaves his wife, a son and daughter and four grandchildren.