Bluffton Today

Commander Wallace "Wally" C. Eichelberg USN Ret. (79), passed away peacefully at the VA Victory House in Walterboro, SC on August 29, 2021. Wally waged a long courageous battle with vascular dementia. Cdr. Eichelberg was born on May 30, 1942, to Oscar and Virginia Eichelberg in Britton, South Dakota. After completing his freshman year at MIT, he joined the Navy serving 26.5 years. While serving he completed a BS degree in Healthcare Administration from Georgetown University. He served on the USS Midway (CVA_41) as a hospital corpsman at the beginning of the Vietnam War until the fall of Saigon then as a Medical Administrative Officer. After multiple assignments at sea, he served as...

Wallace Christian Eichelberg , 79, of Bluffton, SC Sunday August 29. Carolina Memorial Park, Funerals & Cremation, North Charleston, SC.

Ruth Raschke Coleman passed away at home on April 8, 2021 at the age of 93. A many-year resident of Southampton, New York and of Bluffton, South Carolina, she was predeceased by her parents, Walter Edward Raschke, her mother, Edith Emery Raschke, and her husband, Donald Francis Coleman. She is survived by her son, Clay Francis Coleman of Munich, Germany, daughter-in-law Maria Consuelo Coleman, two grandchildren Natalie Anne Coleman and Nicholas Clay Coleman, her niece Lynn Ferrari Nielson and two great-grandchildren. Born in Cook County, Illinois in 1927, and living for many years in the Chicago area, she then lived in Larchmont, New York before spending several years living internationally...

Margaret "Meg" Beattie Jung was born in Providence, RI on November 26, 1931 passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Wesley Commons Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was the daughter of Robert and Ann Beattie. She graduated from Rhode Island College of Education and taught math and physical education in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and West Virginia. While attending graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, she met her husband Dr. Gerald "Jerry" A. Jung. They married in 1957, embarking on a life of shared love of educating, learning and world travel to include New Zealand and Canada. Together they visited Russia, Brazil, Europe and points beyond. Meg...

Helen DeVere Tarver, 92, of Bluffton, SC passed away at her home on January 26, 2021. Born July 21, 1928 in Savanna, IL to George and Helen (Dunn) DeVere, she was raised in Savannah, GA and was a graduate of St. Vincent's Academy and Armstrong College. She was married to William B. Tarver on June 12, 1948. The couple lived briefly in Clemson, SC and Atlanta, GA before moving to the home in Bluffton that they shared until their deaths. She is survived by her children: William B. Tarver, JR of Bluffton, SC, Clare Jones of Atlanta, GA, Elizabeth Zipperer (Alex) of Savannah, GA, Helen Fennelly (Wilson) of Thomasville, GA, 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by...

Danita (Richardson) Mancini, age 83, died on Sunday, January 24, 2021. A full obituary can be viewed on www.legacy.com for more about Danita's life.

Rose Mae (Simmons) Wilcox, formerly of Bluffton, SC, passed away at the age of 100 years at Christian Community Home in Hudson, WI on December 18th, 2020. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date. www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/rose-wilcox.

Catherine "Katie" Louise Pratt Reed, age 95 of College Grove, TN passed away peacefully to meet her Lord and heavenly family on December 18, 2020. She lived a full and blessed Christian life and loved Jesus Christ, her church, family, and community above all else. She was an encourager and an inspiration to those who knew her and she loved being active and busy with living life to the fullest. Katie was a life-long resident of Williamson County,TN being raised on a farm in the Peytonsville Community. She was an active member of College Grove Church of Christ, Fifty Forward College Grove Seniors Center, and initiated the annual golf tournament fundraiser for the center which was named in...

John R. "Dick" Samsen, 92, of Van Nuys, California, passed away Friday, November 6, 2020. Born on November 29, 1927, he was the son of the late John E. and Arta C. (Kessler) Samsen. John attended Purdue University and received his degree in Aeronautical Engineering. His thirty-five-year career included design work on the first Thunderbird and two experimental cars at Ford, and the co-design of Barracuda, Fury, Road Runner, Imperial, Duster, and many other projects at Chrysler. John even published a documentary DVD "We Dreamed the Dream Cars," a history of American car designing. John was also a skilled artist, receiving many awards for his pieces. John is survived by his wife, Mary...

Mr. Earle J. Bedenbaugh, 92, of Prosperity, widower of Jeannine B. Bedenbaugh, died October 22, 2020 at White Oak Manor. Born on March 7, 1928 Prosperity, he was a son of the late C. Boyd and Eula J. Bedenbaugh. He graduated from O'Neal High School and received a B.S. Degree in Animal Husbandry from Clemson College and was a United States Air Force veteran during the Korean Conflict. He along with his brother David organized Bedenbaugh Seed Company in 1949. He was the past president of Bedenbaugh Realty and Development. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church where he served as Vice-Chairman of the congregation; Sunday School teacher; he served on church council, and chairman of the...

Born on August 5, 1937 to Matthew Joseph Chapman and Loretta (Locher) Chapman in Youngstown, Ohio, David went on to live an extraordinary life. A business man by trade and entrepreneur by spirit, his journey took him from rags to riches to rags to comfortable circumstances. The journey began at Proctor and Gamble in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the early 1960's. Lori Lyn, his first daughter, arrived for the ride and then work took the young family to Indianapolis. He was drawn to the thrill of accepting new challenges early on and learned trading comfort and security for opportunity and adventure was his calling. From Indianapolis, the journey took the small family to Medford Lakes, NJ where...

Kerstin Lundin Chapman, age 80, passed away on the morning of August 10, 2020, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, ME, after suffering a stroke following surgery. She was most recently a resident of Bluffton, South Carolina, and New Harbor, Maine, for more than 20 years. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother with a heart of gold, always happiest when helping and engaging with others. Kerstin was born in Gothenburg, Sweden on April 26, 1940. She graduated from Guldhedens Seminarium Teachers College in Sweden in 1960, and later earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Bridgewater State College in 1977. She then taught elementary school students for 20...

Dr. Ramon P. McGehee, 71, of Bluffton, SC, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at Medical University of South Carolina. Ramon was born on June 10, 1949 in McComb, MS to Aubrey Jr. and Agnes Louise McGehee. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Ray E. Harrell and A. P. McGehee, Sr; and brother Owen McGehee. Ramon was an artist, actor, musician, craftsman, tailor, writer, farmer, and healer. He received his undergraduate degree from Millsaps College and received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi. He completed a fellowship in oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He practiced and taught gynecologic...

William "Bill' John Godfrey passed suddenly at his home July 3, 2020. Born July 20, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to William F. and Evelyn Godfrey. In his youth, the family moved to Fish Lake, Indiana where Bill farmed and sold tomatoes. After the death of his father, he worked in a local factory while attending high school to help support the family. In 1960 he entered Indiana University as a "resident scholar," was elected Vice President of the Student Body, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business. After serving in the United States Army, he returned to Indiana University to complete an MBA in 1968. His business career began in the pharmaceutical industry including positions...

Kenneth Jay Stowell, 81, of Hyannis, MA, formerly of Bluffton, SC, passed peacefully on June 11, 2020 surrounded by his heartbroken and blessed family. He was the eldest son of the late Stewart and Jean Stowell born April 12, 1939 in McKeesport, PA. Ken leaves his brothers Jim Stowell and John Stowell and an extended family of nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters in law. Ken married the love of his life, Margaret (Margy) Hamilton on Christmas Eve 1960. Together they had 4 children, Mary Ellen and James Flaherty of Longmeadow, MA, Michael and Wendy Stowell of Andover, CT, Carolyn and Craig Thiel of South Glastonbury, CT and Hyannis, MA and Joanne and Todd Audyatis of East Sandwich, MA....

Marilyn Betcher Hauprich, 90, of Columbia, died Monday, April 13, 2020. Born June 26, 1929 in Cleveland, OH, she was a daughter of the late Max and Blanche Svobda Bernhofer. Marilyn had been a long-time resident of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, until she and her husband, Herm, moved to Sun City Hilton Head, SC to be closer to their daughters. She was a Charter member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bluffton, SC. Survivors include her daughter, Susan L. Bender (Dave); stepdaughter, Linda J. Denny (Morgan); grandchildren, David B. Denny(Michelle), Timothy S. Denny(Alison) and Christopher J. Denny; great-grandchildren, Colin D. Denny, Katelyn E. Denny, Melissa I. Denny and Owen M. Denny. In...

It is with great sadness that we are compelled to announce the death of James Edward McPhee, a well-known resident of Sun City Hilton Head, on Monday, April 6, 2020, around 6 p.m. As pronounced by the coroner, the cause of his death was heart failure. Thankfully, after recent countless visits to sterile hospitals and many transfusions, he passed in his gracious and tastefully maintained home over-looking a lagoon, to which he had devoted much time and love. While sitting in his favorite living room chair and watching the early evening TV news bulletins concerning the horrifying global COVID-19 pandemic developments, his dinner was being prepared in the adjacent kitchen by the love of his...

Susan Carol Carkin, age 72 of Lewes, DE, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at her home after a valiant battle with breast cancer. She was born on October 6, 1947 in Cockfosters, England, daughter of the late Ernest and Violet Collins. Mrs. Carkin attended the East Barnet Secondary School in Cockfosters, England and graduated in 1964. She moved to the US at the age of 20 and began a career as a medical transcriptionist. She retired as a manager with CBAY Systems after many dedicated years. Mrs. Carkin married Paul, the love of her life, on December 28, 1975 at Red Clay Presbyterian Church, in Wilmington, DE. She was a voracious, life-long tennis player, competing in team events...

William A Alt , 87, of Hilton Head, SC Wednesday March 25. Sales. Linda Boyd Jones Alt. Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services - Bluffton.

Lilla Hight Nash, 87 of Lakewood Ranch, Florida passed away suddenly on April 24, 2020. She was born in Washington, DC to Clarence and Elizabeth Hight and graduated from Falls Church High School after living in Montreal Canada for much of her teen years. During her high school years, Lilla was very active as the editor of her school newspaper, the captain of the cheerleading squad and a member of the National Honor Society. Lilla then went on to attend the College of William and Mary and ultimately earned her BA from the University of Maryland in 1990. While living in the Washington, DC area, Lilla met and married Bernard Nash and worked helping him run his masonry company for 30...

Hugh M. Ulmer, 66, passed away Thursday, February 20, 2020. Mr. Ulmer was born October 2, 1953 in Bluffton, SC to Alan A. Ulmer and Vera Stroup Ulmer. He was a graduate of May River Academy and worked as a part of the Ulmer Family Agriculture related businesses. From 1976-2002, he served with the Bluffton Volunteer Fire Department, eventually being elected as Chief. He was a life-long member of Bluffton United Methodist Church. Surviving are his wife, Grazyna Pytowska; brothers, Alan A. Ulmer, Jr. (Jackie), C. Alex Ulmer (Cathie); sister, Elizabeth Ulmer Duncan (Larry); 9 nieces, 2 nephews, 24 grand-nieces and nephews, and stepdaughter, Kasia (Dan). A graveside service will be held at...