Thompson Funeral Home - Lexington

Ronald Thomas Myatich, 84, born November 5, 1939 in Pittsburgh, PA, died on August 28, 2024 in Irmo, SC. Ronald is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Margaret (Cerminara); children, Ronald G. Myatich, MD, Kimberly M. Rosswork, MA, Ed and Kristin G. Edwards, JD; grandchildren, Alexandra I. Myatich, Zachary B. Rosswork and Joshua B. Rosswork; nephews, Mark Burek and Paul Burek. Ronald was a life member of both the American and PA Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was a graduate of Central Catholic High School and the University of Pittsburgh, an executive at Westinghouse Electric from 1966 until retirement in 1998, as well as a board member of numerous PTA's and Marching...

Ruth E. Fazenbaker, age 86 passed away July 21, 2024, in Columbia, South Carolina. Mrs. Fazenbaker was born September 3, 1937, in Parkville, Maryland to parents Charles R. and Lucille (Johnson) Sonn. In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Francis Leo Fazenbaker Sr. Ruth is survived by her five children, Francis Leo Fazenbaker Jr, Adrain Maria Snyder, Ruth Elner Pruitt, Terri Lynn Wright, and Charles Richard Fazenbaker; and several grand and great-grandchildren.

Jacob B. "Jake" Schwartz Jr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior on July 2, 2024. Born April 6, 1927, in Columbia, SC he was the son of the late Jacob B. Schwartz Sr. and Willie Celeste Cooper Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz was a retired sheet metal fabricator and a lifelong hobby farmer at heart. He was a long-time member of the Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, Bauknight Sunday School Class, Men's Fellowship and Joy Club. Veteran of WWII and honorary member of N.A.R.F.E. Known for his positive can-do attitude, he was always in the first group stepping forward to help in any situation of need presented to him. Surviving are his son, Jacob B. "Jay" Schwartz III (and wife Cathy) of...

Kathleen Violet Snow (nee Schriver), age 94, passed away on May 30, 2024, in Greenwood, SC. She was born in Crookston, MN. Kathleen was a loving mother and grandmother. She loved helping raise her grandchildren, spending time with her family and friends. She had a carefree spirit and when she wasn't reading one of her favorite romance novels she was working on her latest ceramic project. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Joyce Ann Roberts; daughters, Marguerite Ann Sowers, Mary Alice Jones, Karen Sue Weingartner, and Kathy Joy Blackwell; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Jesse Snow, and daughter, Sheri Lynn Kunz. Private graveside...

Fred W. Roper, 85, died on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. He was the son of the late Mrs. Mary Alice Jones and Mr. U. G. Roper. Fred was a nationally recognized scholar and educator in the field of Medical Librarianship. Fred earned his Master's of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1962. He completed an internship at UCLA before accepting a position in the Biomedical Library there. He completed his PhD in Library Science at Indiana University in 1971. Fred taught for fifteen years at UNC as Associate Professor and Associate Dean. In 1986, he accepted the position of Dean and Professor in the College of Library and Information Science at the...

COLUMBIA, SC - Fred W. Roper, 85, died on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. He was the son of the late Mrs. Mary Alice Jones and Mr. U. G. Roper. Fred was a nationally recognized scholar and educator in the field of Medical Librarianship. Fred earned his Master's of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1962. He completed an internship at UCLA before accepting a position in the Biomedical Library there. He completed his PhD in Library Science at Indiana University in 1971. Fred taught for fifteen years at UNC as Associate Professor and Associate Dean. In 1986, he accepted the position of Dean and Professor in the College of Library and Information...

Millie Norton, age 91, went to be with the Lord on April 4, 2024. Widow of the late J.P. Norton, Jr. "Jay". She was the only child of the late Willie and Mamie Blalock Robison. She was a graduate from the Spartanburg School of Nursing and worked at Spartanburg General and Mary Black before moving to the Columbia area in 1969, where she was at Lexington Medical Center Emergency Department for 25 years before she retired. Millie was strong in her Christian faith and a devoted servant to the Lord, who had a positive impact on many. She was a member of Still Waters Baptist Church in Leesville. She was very faithful in any mission's work where she traveled overseas for the Lord and was a...

James Maurice Hatchell, Sr. October 22, 1939 - March 23, 2024 James M. Hatchell (10/22/39) went to be with the Lord on 3/24/24. He died at home peacefully with his beloved wife Christine Ann Joseph Hatchell (Tina, m.1993, Georgetown, SC ) and family by his side. Jim was born and raised in Cheraw, S.C., a town he greatly loved. Cheraw State Park held a special place in his heart. He graduated from Cheraw High, where he lettered in three sports, was captain of the varsity basketball team, a member of the Debate Team, Speech Club, and the Block C. Club. He attended Wingate Jr. College on a basketball scholarship and was VP of the Student Body. Jim went on to graduate with a B.A. from the...

On March 22, 2024, Mary Ella (Lithgo) Tingen entered into her heavenly home at the age of 94. She was born November 27, 1929, to Samuel Joseph and Anna Mae Lithgo in Greensboro, North Carolina. Mary Ella met her husband, Don, at a USO dance after he returned from the Navy in World War II. They made their home and raised four children in Greensboro, NC, where they were active members of Trinity Methodist Church. They later moved their family to Lexington, South Carolina. An avid bridge player, Mary Ella enjoyed every opportunity to play cards and games with friends and family. She loved flowers and enjoyed being a member of garden clubs for many years. She was a long time member of Saxe...

After having been given the last rites by Our Lady of the Hills, Father Santiago, Josef Franz Kliment passed away at noon on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in Lexington, SC. Born June 18, 1940 in Prerau, Czechoslovakia to the late Josef W. and Sofie Houstova Kliment, Mr. Kliment graduated from the University of Nurnberg before emigrating to the United States in response to President Kennedy's famous, "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Mr. Kliment proudly served in the United States Air Force before a successful career in the insurance industry, retiring in 2006 from the Strickler Agency. Joe took part in various charitable events, being especially proud of leading the United Way campaign to meeting...

James M. "Jim" Hutchinson, 76, of Lexington, SC, passed away February 1, 2024. Born in Buffalo, NY, he is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Pauline A. Draper Hutchinson; son, James D. Hutchinson. Jim was the Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council and Faithful Navigator of the Assembly and served on the Board of Directors for the Franciscan Homeless Shelter in Buffalo, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children's Hospital at www.stjudes.org. Online condolences may be shared at http://www.woodridgefuneralhome.com.

Daphne Flo Shepherd Rushe died on December 23, 2023 in West Columbia, SC. Born in Columbia on July 11, 1934, she was the youngest of eleven children of the late Reverend William Arthur and Mary Reynolds Shepherd, and the wife of the Reverend George Marion Rushe (Col, USAF Retired) who predeceased her in May 2020. Daphne was raised in West Columbia and graduated from Brookland Cayce High School (1952). She was married in 1954 to her husband of sixty-six years, George Marion, and was both a pastor's wife and an Air Force wife. She travelled the world raising her family and lived in Texas, Japan, Virginia, England, South Carolina, Nebraska, Germany, and Louisiana, before moving to Chapin,...

We are sad to announce the passing of Susan "Sue" Kathleen Fournelle of Lexington, South Carolina. She peacefully passed away at the age of 77 on October 05, 2023. Sue was born to Matt and Eva Braun in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Sue married the love of her life, Gary Fournelle, in 1971 and relocated to Omaha, Nebraska. They spent 50 years in Omaha before moving to Lexington, SC in November 2021. Sue was a dedicated mother and wife. She especially loved her role as Grandma. She had a witty personality and loved to make those around her laugh. Sue is survived by her husband, Gary; daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Tom Kokes of Lexington, SC; daughter and daughter-in-law, Lisa Baker...

Vernita Nicole Wingate was born October 20, 1977 on Yokota Air Force Base in Tokyo, Japan. She was the fourth daughter born to Laverne Wingate and Ella Lighty Wingate. The family would eventually include five children (four daughters and one son). She transitioned to her heavenly home on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Vernita was a precocious child. She was adventurous, fearless and had a very strong will. She was the "baby girl" of the family and was loved by all. She was a nurturer, a listener and a forever friend. She could do no wrong and was known for her sweet smile and chubby cheeks. Vernita received her formal education in the public school systems of Bellevue, Nebraska and...

Vernita Nicole Wingate was born October 20, 1977 on Yokota Air Force Base in Tokyo, Japan. She was the fourth daughter born to Laverne Wingate and Ella Lighty Wingate. The family would eventually include five children (four daughters and one son). She transitioned to her heavenly home on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Vernita was a precocious child. She was adventurous, fearless and had a very strong will. She was the "baby girl" of the family and was loved by all. She was a nurturer, a listener and a forever friend. She could do no wrong and was known for her sweet smile and chubby cheeks. Vernita received her formal education in the public school systems of Bellevue, Nebraska and...

Gwendolyn (Gwen) Easler Fitzgerald, a native of Spartanburg, SC, died following a brief hospitalization at Greenville Memorial Hospital. Her husband, Joseph, pre-deceased her in 2009. She is survived by her three children, Barry Fitzgerald and spouse Debbie, John Fitzgerald and his spouse Kathy, and Daphne Spratling and her spouse Johnny. She enjoyed her seven grandchildren, Erik Fitzgerald, Erin Yeary, Kellie Masone, Ashley Fitzgerald, Corey Jungclaus, Anna Smith, and Caroline Stone. A special smile was saved for her nine great-grandchildren. Mrs. Fitzgerald graduated from Spartanburg High School. She worked for the James L. Tapp Company for 30 years and retired as Credit Manager. ...

Jeannie C. McQuillen Jeannie Carroll Epting Marchant McQuillen, age 48, died unexpectedly on July 16, 2023. Born at the Baptist Hospital in Columbia on October 20, 1974, she was the daughter of Jolene Jones and Larry C. Marchant, Sr. She was the mother and soul mate of Drew McQuillen, age 15, and Rebecca McQuillen, age 12, and the "little" sister of Charles Epting. Jeannie was a proud 1992 graduate of Brookland Cayce High School. Although an ardent Clemson Tiger fan from birth, she moved to her favorite place, Fripp Island, South Carolina, to attend the University of South Carolina, Beaufort and the Technical College of the Low Country to study nursing. Her favorite color remained...

Emmie Bullington Gorrell passed away May 31, 2023. Born to Martha and Lee Bullington Aug. 3, 1953, in Columbia, SC, she was graduated from Charlotte's East Mecklenburg HS and received her BA from Appalachian State Univ. as well as two Master's degrees from the Univ. of SC. She worked as a speech therapist and special ed teacher in Union County (SC) and Columbia schools. In 1985 she married Martin Gorrell. They lived in Columbia, then Lexington, SC, till 2016, when they moved to Union Mills, NC. She was the sister of Lee Bullington, Jr., who preceded her in death. She is survived by her sister, Susan Bullington Katz (Tony Bellasalma); sister-in-law, Barbara Canfield Bullington; niece, Chloe...

Known to many as Hedy (maiden name Jadvyga Stripeika) passed away to natural causes April 25, 2022 with loving daughter Vita by her side. Born October 29, 1920 in Siauliai, Lithuania, she later moved to Kaunas to attend Nursing School & in late WWII, became a State-registered Midwife experienced in Children's Hospitals & later Chief Nurse. She resided in Elizabeth, NJ after arriving in the US April 1949, got married there & in time became a naturalized US citizen. She moved to Lexington, SC in 1992 with her daughter Vita's family. She is predeceased by her father Antanas Stripeika, mother Julija Kucaite, older sister Vita, husband Justin Paulauskas, & middle son John. ...

The Reverend Phil Mace Jones, retired United Methodist Minister, died on April 3, 2022. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Shandon United Methodist Church, Columbia, South Carolina, and will be conducted by The Rev. C. E. Smoke Kanipe, Jr., and The Rev. Dr. Bill Bouknight. Visitation with the family will follow the service. The private entombment will be in Greenlawn Mausoleum. Phil was born on January 16, 1930 in Gresham, South Carolina. He was a son of the late J. Frank and Foye Harrelson Jones. He was a graduate of Brittons Neck High School, a 1951 graduate of Wofford College and a 1955 graduate of Emory University where he received his Master of...

David Burns Roper, Jr., of Cayce, SC, was born in Orangeburg, SC on January 9, 1944, and passed peacefully on January 25, 2022. David grew up in Laurens, SC, where he graduated from Laurens High School, and was awarded a scholarship to study music at Furman University. He later attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business and Finance, and later his Master of Business Administration. David proudly served his country as a Master Sergeant in the US Air Force. After his service, he had a successful career in banking, serving as Assistant Vice President of the law department at South Carolina National Bank and Vice President of Loan...