Robert L. Gaines

Robert L. Gaines
JANUARY 13, 1927 - JANUARY 3, 2012
ANDERSON, SC - Robert Lafayette Gaines, age 84, resident of 105 Roberts Street, passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at the AnMed Health Medical Center.
Born January 13, 1927, in Anderson, SC, he was a son of the late Rufus Henry Gaines and Ruth Vaughan Gaines. Following graduation from Anderson Boys' High School, Mr. Gaines attended Clemson College and at the close of his first academic year he enlisted into the Naval Air Corp for two years of military service. He furthered his education by completing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina where he was member of Sigma Nu. Additionally, he has been a Gamecock Club member for over sixty-three years and is a Life Member of the USC Alumni Association. It was in 1949 that Mr. Gaines began his employment at the Anderson Post Office, where his father was Postmaster. He retired at the age of fifty-five as Assistant Postmaster. Mr. Gaines was heavily involved in the Anderson community - mostly enjoying working with the youth through his beloved First Presbyterian Church. In addition to taking youth on annual skiing trips, he served on the Special Concerns Ministry at the church, and at age 70 was named 'Life Elder' -- after serving numerous terms as Elder and Deacon. In 1987, he was a major builder of the first Habitat for Humanity home in Anderson. It was in the Gaines historic family home that he co-founded Anderson Interfaith Ministries, an organization comprised of people and churches of various faiths providing assistance to the needy. Mr. Gaines served as the Treasurer of AIM for ten years. Following his retirement from the Post Office, he began planting what would become known as the Gaineswood Christmas Tree Farm, which is located behind of the family lake home. In Mr. Gaines efforts to care for AIM, he agreed to give AIM forty percent of the net received. Lastly, Mr. Gaines was a member of the Anderson Elks Lodge '1206', where he served as Exalted Ruler.
Survivors include his wife of fifty-six years, Barbara Cribbs Gaines, of the home; and their children: a daughter, Suzette Elizabeth Gaines Bowman and husband, Edward Marshall Bowman, of Anderson, SC, and their son, Marshall Robert Bowman, also of Anderson, SC; a son, Robert Lafayette Gaines Jr. and wife, Margaret Ann Berry Gaines, of Anderson, SC, and their daughter, Rosemary Gaines, of Central, SC; a special sister-in-law, Doris Cribbs Simons, of Anderson, SC; a special niece, Nancy Snipes Hester, of Garden City, SC, and her son, Theron Earl Hester, Jr.. In addition to his parents, Mr. Gaines was predeceased by a grandson, Christopher Glenn Holcombe; as well as all of his siblings: Frances Isabella Gaines Snipes, Sara Ann Gaines Price, and Rufus Henry Gaines Jr.
The Funeral Service will be held at 11am on Friday, January 6, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church of Anderson, conducted by the Reverend Dr. Dennis R. Tedder. Elders of the church will serve as Honorary Escort. Burial will follow in the family plot at Old Silver Brook Cemetery.
The family is at the home and will receive friends at The McDougald Funeral Home from 4pm until 6pm on Thursday.
It is suggested that memorials be made to Anderson Interfaith Ministries (AIM), P.O. Box 1136, Anderson, SC 29622, or First Presbyterian Church, 302 West Whitner Street, Anderson, SC 29624, or to the local charity of one's choice.
A message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com.
THE McDOUGALD FUNERAL HOME and CREMATION SERVICES, Anderson.