John Finlay Obituary

John Arnold Finlay COTTAGEVILLE, SC - Mr. John Arnold Finlay, 91, of Cottageville, entered into rest Thursday, April 30, 2015 at Colleton Medical Center. He was the husband of the late Ruth Spencer Finlay. The funeral service will be held at 3 pm, Sunday, May 3, 2015 at The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Home, Walterboro Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service until 5 pm. Born on March 25, 1924 in Plains, Montana and was a son of the late Harry A. Finlay and Emma Gerhe Finlay. He served his country in the United States Army and retired after 22 years of service as a Master Sergeant, having served in World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Era. He was also a Glider Pilot and was there for the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. Master Sergeant Finlay served overseas in the European Theater of Operations from March 14, 1944 to October 20, 1945 in Korea and from July 13, 1954 to October 24, 1955 in Japan. He served again in Japan from July 28, 1960 to July 26, 1963. After his service in the military, Mr. Finlay began working for the United States Postal Service and was a retired mail carrier from the Rivers Annex Post Office in Charleston. He was a member of Spring Hill Baptist Church in Cottageville. Mr. Finlay was a Master Mason, holding membership at Unity Lodge No. 55 A.F.M.; a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Walterboro Chapter No. 147; a member of the American Legion, Columbia Post No. 172; and was a member of the North American Hunting Club. He loved spending time outdoors hunting and fishing. Surviving are: his sons, John "Speed" Finlay of Cottageville, Bob J. Finlay of Jonesboro, Georgia, James A. Finlay of Cottageville, and Herbert Harry Finlay of Cottageville; 6 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, Ron Frank Finlay and Donald Edward Finlay; and a grandson. ARRANGEMENTS BY: THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro; 843.538.5408. Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston