St. Clair Orvin Obituary

St. Clair Orvin MONCKS CORNER - St. Clair Orvin, 97, of Moncks Corner, founder of Orvin's Piggly Wiggly and Orvin's Furniture and Appliance, passed away January 16, 2011. He was the widower of Ganelle Smith Riley Orvin. St. Clair was born in the Wassamassaw area of Berkeley County, the son of John Wesley Orvin and Martha Jane West Harvey Orvin. He was a graduate of Berkeley High School; and in May 1937, he married Gladys Tatum of Tampa, Fl. He later married Ganelle S. Riley of Summerville. He created a wholesale business of candies, gum and tobacco products, expanding into kerosene refrigerators and wringer washers. He and his brother, Denmon W. Orvin, established the first self serve grocery in Moncks Corner, which later became part of the Piggly Wiggly franchise. St. Clair was a past member of the Moncks Corner Rotary Club, Moncks Corner Retailers Assoc., American Legion, and member and deacon of the Moncks Corner Presbyterian Church. Surviving are sons, St. Clair Baxter Orvin and his wife, Betty, and Clair Tatum Orvin and his wife, Cindy; two step sons, John W.Riley and his wife, Cynthia; and Dr. Thomas W. Riley and his wife, Patricia; four grandchildren; seven step grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and a very loving friend, Ruth Riley. He was predeceased by his daughter, Jenifer Gregg; his two wives, Gladys O. Niederhof and Ganelle R. Orvin; and his siblings, Julia Snell, Pearl Harvey, Stephen Harvey, Allen Harvey, Oswell Harvey, Norman Harvey, Harry Harvey, Fannie Mae Varner Hill, Dorothy Browning, Denmon Orvin and Yates Orvin. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 419 West Main Street, Moncks Corner, S. C. 29461. The family will receive friends at RUSSELL FUNERAL CHAPEL, Moncks Corner, on Saturday, January 22, 2011, between 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM. Private family burial will immediately follow in Summerville. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths