Paul Greer Obituary

Paul Sarratt Greer UNION, SC - Mr. Paul Sarratt Greer, Union businessman, patriot, Christian, and family patriarch died Monday, May 3, 2010, at his home, 505 Springdale Drive, Union. He was 93 years old and was the loving and devoted husband, of Margarette Crawford Greer for sixty-three years. Mr. Greer was born in Excelsior community of Union October 23, 1916, a son of the late James Greer and Sallie Edwards Greer. When he was a small child, his family moved to the Sardis community where they owned and operated a farm. Having attended the Sardis schools, he worked with the SC State Hwy. Department, and played textile league baseball with Excelsior prior to WWII. The first of five brothers to answer the call of his country, (September 16, 1940), he left Union with the National Guard Unit and rose to the rank of Sargent with Company L 253rd Infantry. He served in Iceland, Scotland, England and France and he was awarded OSEAMET Campaign medal with two bronze service stars and the American Defense Service Medal. Following his discharge in 1945 he returned to Union County and worked with A.M. Adams at his Esso station. On July 1, 1946, Mr. Greer opened Greer's Shell #1 on North Pinckney Street. On October 15 of that same year he married Miss Margarette. An entrepreneur at heart Mr. Greer expanded his business to include Greer's Wrecker Service in 1948 and Greer's Oil Company in 1951. Prior to the formal opening of the Duncan Bypass, Greer's Shell #2 opened in July 1956 on the west corner of West Main and Duncan Bypass. In 1993 Mr. Greer consolidated his three businesses into one, which became Greer's Exxon Station at 101 North Duncan Bypass. On January 4, 2000, after 53 years operating a gas and oil company, Mr. Paul, as he was affectionately known, retired and relocated Greer's Wrecker Service across the road next to Greer's Car Wash, which he and his son still operate. Mr. Greer was a member of Sardis United Methodist Church for 82 years where he was active as a member, teacher, leader, contributor and faithful servant of God. The Church honored him by naming him Father of the Year and lifetime member of the United Methodist Men's Club. Having grown-up on a farm, Mr. Paul established Big G Farms, a cattle farm located on the Sardis Road near his beloved family home. While farming he was named Conservationist of the Year by the Union County Soil Water Conservation District. A member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, he was awarded a sixty year membership pen by American Legion Post 22 in April of 2010. Surviving in addition to his wife are a daughter: Sharon Greer Smith of Charleston; a son: Paul S. Greer, II and wife Karen of Union; a brother: Hubert D. Greer and wife Linda of Union; sister-in-law: Julia Greer of Union;4 grandchildren: Troy Douglas Smith and Buffie Smith Copeland and husband Jeff all of Charleston, Paul S. Greer, III and Patrick S. Greer both of Union; 5 great-grandchildren: Taylor and Douglas Smith, Lane Greer Copeland, Seth Crawford Copeland and Matthew Smith all of Charleston and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Greer was predeceased by a son-in-law: John Douglas Smith; three sisters: Margaret G.Moore, Lena G. Ivey and Nina G. Wilson; five brothers: John Lewis Greer, C. Manley Greer, W. Edward Greer, Earl Greer and Russell Greer. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Thursday, May 6, 2010, at Sardis United Methodist Church conducted by Rev. John Cribb, Rev. Robert Chapman, and Rev. Angelia Price. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Active pallbearers will be: Sammy Smith, Roger Bailey, Brown Fant, Sam Smith, Russell Roark, C. Wilbur Hodge, Jr. and Lynn Hodge. The following are asked to assemble at the church at 10:45 AM Thursday to form the honorary escort: Sam White, Freddie Gault, Phillip Arnold, Dr. Jeff Craft, Dr. David Ike, Jimmy Lawson, Fred Scott, Michael Kicidis, Paul Kicidis, Jr., R.D. Williams, Kenneth Black, C.B. Blackwell, Mickey Cranford, Gene Gregory, Eddie Hines, Gibby Arthur, Frank Humphries, Joey Hines, Lee Sanders, John Rampey, Ken Horne, Kevin Smith, Pearl F. Crocker, Florence Meador, Carl Gist, Ricky Richardson, Jimmy Lewis Edwards, Tommy Edwards, Earl Bryan, Tommy Anthony, Don Cody, Joe Harper, James C. Sumner, Dudley and Hazel Adams, Ted and Mildred Purvis, Tom and Carol Coffer, Jack and Betty Rash, James Wilson, Charlie Wilson, Jr., Ronnie Moore, Russell Moore, Ed Greer, Jr. Dennis Moss, Mike Moss, Rev. Dr. Jim Ivey and Simp Vaughan. Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Wednesday, evening at the S.R. Holcombe Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Sardis United Methodist Church,. P.O. Box 645, Union, SC, 29379 or to Spartanburg Regional Home Health, 120 Heywood Ave., Spartanburg, SC, 29303. The family will be at the home, 505 Springdale Dr., Union. Please visit our website to view articles about the life of Mr. Paul S. Greer or send condolences to the family. The S.R. Holcombe Funeral Home, Inc. (www.holcombefunerralhomes.com Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths