Charles "Chuck" Bethea

Charles “Chuck” Julian Bethea, 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at Hospice of Scotland County in Laurinburg, NC  He was surrounded by his family.

Funeral services for Mr. Bethea will be Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Main St. United Methodist Church in McColl, SC and will be officiated by Rev. Ann Everette.  Burial will follow in the Bethea Cemetery at the crossroads in Adamsville.  A time of remembrance and visitation will be held prior to the services from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Born January 7, 1921, the youngest of six children to the late Thomas Jesse Bethea and the late Lyda Manship Bethea of Adamsville. A graduate of Fletcher Memorial High School in 1937 and Clemson College, Class of 1941, he was among the first to join the war effort in WWII from Clemson. He served as a navigator in B25 bombers under General Claire Chenault, Commander General of the Flying Tigers in Burma and China in 1942 and 1943.  In recognition of his service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air and Service Medals.

In 1943, he returned home to Marlboro County and married his childhood friend, Carolyn Tatum on May 24, 1944.  It was in Marlboro County that he enjoyed 71 years as her life partner.

He continued his service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve until he retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1981. He retired from the S. C. Tax Commission after 28 years.  He was an avid quail hunter. Chuck loved his family, church, community and the Clemson Tigers. As a lifelong member of Main Street United Methodist Church, he served as Chairman of the Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and treasurer. He was a founding member of the Methodist Men Fellowship. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for McColl Fletcher Memorial School.

Mr. Bethea was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn Bethea Hubbard and a grandson, William Breeden Bethea.

To cherish his memory Charles leaves behind his wife, Carolyn of the home; two sons, Charles J. Bethea, Jr. (Frances) of Marion, S.C. and  John T. Bethea, (Loren) of Summerville, S.C.; a daughter,  Elizabeth B. Taylor (Jimmy), of Columbia, S.C.;  a son-in-law, Reginald H. Hubbard of Darlington, S.C; nine grandchildren; Charles T. Bethea, (Debbie), Marietta, Ga.; Dr. Elizabeth H. Jeffords, (Carter), Columbia, S.C.; Catherine Taylor Trosclair, (Erik), Marietta, Ga.; Alan Hampton Hubbard, (Elizabeth), Hartsville, S.C.; James (Jack) B. Taylor, (Laurel), Beaufort, N.C.; John (Tate) Tatum Bethea, Mt. Pleasant, S. C.; James McApline Bethea, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Carolyn (Carrie) Welborn Bethea, Charleston, S. C.; Zachary Tristram Bethea, Summerville, S.C.

The family would like to extend its warm and sincere thanks to the nurses and staff of Hospice of Scotland County for the love and care of Mr. Bethea and his family.

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