LeGrand Ariail Rouse

COLUMBIA - Funeral service for LeGrand Ariail Rouse, II, 78, will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Shandon United Methodist Church, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2012, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Mr. Rouse, husband of Patricia White Rouse, of Columbia passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2012 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Born on June 11, 1933 in Spartanburg, he was the son of the late LeGrand and Virginia Ariail Rouse. He graduated from Spartanburg High School; received his Bachelors Degree in History from Wofford College; a M.A. in Government from American University in Washington, D.C.; and a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina. He also did further graduate work towards a Ed.D. degree at USC. Prior to passing the S.C. State Bar exam, he renewed his acquaintances with Patricia White, a student at Columbia College, which ultimately led to their engagement and marriage in 1958. After passing the state bar exam in 1959, Mr. Rouse began a brief practice of general law in Spartanburg and in 1960 was elected to the first of two terms in the S.C. House of Representatives from Spartanburg County. During 1963, he was employed by the late Senior U.S. Senator from South Carolina, Olin D. Johnson, serving initially as Associate Counsel of the Subcommittee on Judicial Improvements, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and later as a professional staff member of the Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee. Mr. Rouse returned to his Spartanburg home in 1968 where he coupled a limited amount of law practice with teaching duties at Woodruff Jr. High School and in the evening division of the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg. At that time he was asked by the S.C. Department of Education to come to Columbia and develop, and be an on-camera instructor for, an Instructional Television series entitled, "Government, Politics, Citizenship" primarily for use with 9th grade civics classes. In the later years of his subsequent career in the Department of Education, he served as Secondary Social Studies Consultant, working with high school teachers across the state to improve social studies programs. During the last 12 years prior to his retirement, he served the late State Superintendent of Education, Charlie G. Williams, as his Special Assistant for Legal and Legislative Affairs. As such, Mr. Rouse represented the Department in the General Assembly and as a liaison to a number of educational groups. Since his retirement in 1991, he devoted much time volunteering at Shandon United Methodist Church as a member of the Chancel and Celebration Choirs, the Shandon Chefs, several committees and the Administrative Board. He also served for a number of years volunteering at Riverbanks Zoo. Mr. Rouse was a member of Shandon Masonic Lodge #1370 A.F.M. and was a Past President of Fort Jackson Chapter #184, National Sojourners and a Past Commander of the Heroes of '76. He served on active duty in Germany with the U.S. Army (1955-57) and was in the Active Reserve for a number of years, rising to the rank of Captain. He is listed in certain editions of Personalities of the South: Who's Who in the South and Southwest; Who's Who in American Law; Who's Who in American Education; and Who's Who in America. Surviving in addition to Pat, the love of his life for 53 years, are sons, LeGrand Ariail Rouse, III, Daniel Morris Rouse, both of Lexington; Daughter, Laurie and husband, Shawn Hazel, of Huntersville, N.C.; grandchildren, Connor Hazel, Ariail Hazel, Clay Rouse, Ethan Rouse; sisters, Gail Rouse of Arlington, Va. and Sherry Friday and husband, Tom, of Spartanburg. Memorials may be made to Shandon United Methodist Church, 3406 Devine Street, Columbia SC 29205 or Epworth Children's Home, 2900 Millwood Avenue, Columbia SC 29205.