Clarence S. Gramling

Clarence Smith Gramling, 86, of Moncks Corner, retired Sr. V-P of Santee Cooper and U. S. Navy WWII and Korean War Veteran entered into eternal rest on March 1, 2012. He was the widower of Sara Lee Guess Gramling.

Mr. Gramling was born December 6, 1925, in Orangeburg, S. C., the son of Andrew Copes Gramling and Era Sheriff Gramling.

At 17, Clarence enlisted in the U.S. Navy in World War II to defend his country. He served as Quartermaster aboard US. Navy 547 LCT Flotilla in the 2nd Wave on the Easy Red section of Normandy Beach, D-Day; also, as 2nd Class Petty Officer aboard the USS Flaherty 135 at the end of WWII. After WWII, he married the love of his life, Sara Lee Guess, and attained a BS degree in Engineering from Clemson. In 1949, he joined Santee Cooper in Myrtle Beach as Jr. Engineer. From 1950-53, he was recalled to serve aboard Aircraft Carrier USS Wright CVI-49. In 1953, he returned to Santee Cooper in Myrtle Beach as District Manager.

Myrtle Beach Methodist Church became home for Sara, Clarence and children, where he readily served as Sunday School Teacher, Chairman of Board of Stewards, Admin Board and many more. He actively served as President of the MB Lions Club, VP of MB Jaycees, VP of MB Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Horry Co. Developers Board, helped design lighting for Rambi Raceway, helped start Canadian-American Days and the Sun Fun Festival and parade. In 1964, he was most proud to be awarded Grand Strand Citizen of the Year from Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce.

In 1956, Santee Cooper in Moncks Corner became home, where he worked his way up to Sr. VP. A faithful servant of Moncks Corner United Methodist Church, he served as SS Teacher, Chrmn of Finance, Trustees, Building, Pastor- Parish Relations, Chrmn of Board of Visitiors for Methodist Oaks, and Chrmn of Trustees and Building Committee for S.C. Conference UMS Resource Center in Columbia, S.C. He was a member of the Moncks Corner Lifetime Wildlife Action, Gideon’s Bible Ministry, and IPTAY.

Clarence and Sara enjoyed many hours rockfishing, attending his WWII LCT Flotilla Reunions and checking on family, Navy buddies and long-time friends regularly. Clarence’s “Happy Birthday, Wedding Anniversaries and remembering the death of loved one” calls will be sadly missed by family, friends and co-workers. He spent his last few years teaching us by his example of lifetime faith and trust in Christ and how to handle aging and disability with graciousness and appreciation to all who helped him.

Surviving are daughter, Martha Ann Gramling Taylor Stuckey (Lee); son, Steven Guess Gramling (Peggy Ann); beloved grandchildren – Kevin Earl Taylor, Era Lynn Gramling, Margaret Gramling Friar (William) ; Sara Guess Gramling; L.ee Stevem Gramling; brother, Fred Henry Gramling , In addition to his loving wife, Sara, and son Clarence Dennis Gramling, he is predeceased by brother, Andrew Copes Gramling, Jr. (Frances) , Alfred Sheriff Gramling, Laura Gramling Belford (Mel) and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to his loving, caring sitters and staff at the Bridge of Charleston, Pastor and Sunday School teachers at The Bridge, Rev. Jim Blakesly, Wayne Creech, Linda Wilcox, Johnny Hill, Trident Medical Center Staff, Dr. Brantley Arnau and Pretty Nurse Brenda, Mac Cumming, PT and staff at Amedisys.

His funeral service will be held Sunday afternoon, March 4, 2012, at 2 o’clock, in Moncks Corner United Methodist Church, 200 N. Live Oak Drive. Burial, directed by RUSSELL FUNERAL CHAPEL will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, 3379 Columbia Road, Orangeburg, S.C. 29118 at 5:00 P.M. The family will receive friends at RUSSELL FUNERAL CHAPEL between 5 and 7 o’clock Saturday evening, March 3, 2012.

Memorials may be made to Moncks Corner United Methodist Church, 200 N. Live Oak Dr., Moncks Corner, S.C. 29461; to the S.C. United Methodist Foundation, 2900 Millwood Ave., Columbia, S. C. 29205-1359; or to American Cancer Society, 5900 Core Road, Suite 504, N. Charleston, S. C. 29406.