Dr. C. Patrick Killen

Dr. Clyde Patrick Killen, age 86, (affectionately known as Poppy by his wife, children, and grandchildren) of Edisto Island, SC, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 20, 2025. Born on April 11, 1939, in Florence, SC, he was a son of the late Clyde Hyman Killen and Chrystine Rose Oliver Killen.

Pat was a great father. After that, he was a dentist. For years, he was the first and only pediatric dentist in Anderson, serving children of the South Carolina Upstate and northeast Georgia. He was an avid golfer, where he spent countless hours perfecting his swing and sharing stories with his friends.

Pat worked all his life starting with a paper route on his bicycle. He was also active in the Boy Scouts earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout. His youth was spent scoring touchdowns on the field and making jump shots on the basketball court. He was an All-State basketball player and track runner, winning the State 880 his senior year. Pat also achieved excellence on the football field, where Banks McFadden and Frank Howard awarded him a full scholarship to Clemson College to play football. He played in the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1959, which the Tigers won, and he still has the watch given to the players from that game. He left Clemson early after being awarded early admission to dental school. He was an extraordinarily hard worker and paid his own way through dental school at the Medical College of Virginia (now part of Virginia Commonwealth University) as a nurse in Richmond. The skills he learned there, and his legacy of bravery came to light in an act of heroism when he saved his two-year-old nephew from drowning, a testament to his decisiveness and quick thinking. He returned to Clemson later in life to receive his official diploma in 2010.

Pat was a member of the Anderson Dental Association, the Anderson Ski Society, the Anderson Touchdown Club, the Steak Club, the Cardinal Racquet Club, the Windsor Association, the Thalian Club, the Anderson Debutante Club, the Bridge Club, the Yacht Club, and the Edisto Codgers. He was an initial member of Cobbs Glen Country Club. He also enjoyed taking random trips with his wife, friends, and grandchildren, all over the United States and other countries.

Pat's memory will live on in the stories he shared on the golf course, the cheers at Clemson games where he spent countless hours with his family and friends.

Pat cherished his family. He leaves behind his kind and devoted wife of 63 years, Betty, whom he met through mutual friends at Thorntons Filling Station in St. Matthews, SC. Together they built a wonderful life. He was a proud and nurturing father to Craig, Patrick, Christi, and Tim, who will forever carry his wisdom in their hearts.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Nelson Killen; children Craig Nelson Killen (Jennifer), Patrick McFadden Killen (Robin), Christine Leigh Killen Gray (David), and Timothy Blair Killen (Betsy); grandchildren, Madeline Killen, Sam Killen, Rebekah Killen Ward, Mary Kate Killen Barber, Ruthie Killen, Will Chard, Bethie Chard, Erin Chard, Anna Blaire Killen, Banks Killen, Eloise Killen, and Teddy Killen; step grandchildren, Brandon Purdee, Megan Hawkins, William Gray, Meriwether Gray, and Annabeth Crabtree; great grandson, Danny Barber; and brother, Jerry Killen.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 4:00-6:00 pm at The McDougald Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Trinity Church, 1589 Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Church, www.trinityedisto.com, or Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont, www.careofthepiedmont.org/donate, in Pat's honor.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting WWW.MCDOUGALDFUNERALHOME.COM.