Furman L. Fendley

UNION, SC-- Furman Lester Fendley was born May 16, 1918, in Westminster, SC. He passed peacefully on November 30, 2005, after an extended illness.Furman served in the SC House of Representatives for eight years. He served on the State Highway Commission for eight years, and was chairman for one term. The four lane highway from Union to Spartanburg, Hwy. 176, was named the Furman L. Fendley Highway because of his dedication to this project.Furman served on the SC Farm Bureau State Board for 30 years, and received the Distinguished Service Award. He was past Chairman of the State Land Resource Commission, past President of the SC Rural Water Commission, and was a member of the SC Beef Board. He was past President of the Union County Chamber of Commerce, past Chairman of the Union County Carnegie Library Board, past Chairman of the Union Soil and Water Conservation District, and a member of the Provident Community Bank Board of Directors for 25 years. He was a member of Hebron Baptist Church of Union, where he was a Sunday school teacher for more than 50 years, Deacon and past Chairman of the Board of Deacons, and served on the Sanctuary Building Committee.Furman served in the U. S. Navy on the U.S.S. Dickerson in World War II. He survived an attack from a Japanese suicide-plane that sank his ship. A number of his fellow crew members were killed and Furman and some of his fellow mates were rescued from the Pacific Ocean after being stranded in the water for more than eight hours.Furman is survived by a sister-in-law, Dorothy S. Whitney of Union, SC; a sister, Louise and husband Bill Harris of Westminister, SC; a brother, Dan and wife Wilma Fendley of Westminister, SC; a brother, Raymond Fendley of Westminister, SC; a nephew, Jimbo and wife Anita Whitney, and their children Eva, Bo, Ann and Julia of Union; a nephew, Billy and wife Patsy Whitney and their son Will of Union and daughters Emily Whitney of Greenville, SC and Louisa Whitney of Stamford, Connecticut; a niece, Dorothy Mobley Jones and her son Ronald Foster Fendley Jones of Columbia, SC; a nephew, Johnny and wife Carolyn Harris of Westminister, SC; a niece, Susan and husband Mike Head of Westminister, SC; a niece, Mary and husband Cris Watkins of Westminister, SC; a nephew, Alan Fendley of Westminister, SC; twin nieces, Karen Craig and Sharon Fendley of Westminister, SC; a nephew, Douglas and wife Linda Fendley of Westminister, SC; a niece, Sherill and husband David Callahan of Indiana; and a niece, Janet and husband Clay Greer of Westminister, SC; and a number of great-nieces and nephews. Furman was predeceased by his wife and long time companion of 60 years, Sue Frances Whitney Fendley; a brother, Joe Fendley of Clarksville, VA; a brother, Henry Fendley of Westminister, SC, and half sisters, Lala Fendley Dyar of Seneca, SC, Margi Fendley Price of Westminister, SC and Veda Fendley Isbell of Westminister, SC; and a half brother, Bill Fendley of Fayetteville, NC.The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the home of Mr. Fendley, 3809 Whitmire Hwy., Union, SC.Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 2, 2005 at Hebron Baptist Church of Union, SC. Burial will be in the church cemetery.Pallbearers are Whitney Smith, Mike Anthony, Norris Fowler, Louis Jordan, Ed Mitchell and Barham Kennedy.Memorials may be made to Hebron Baptist Church, 143 Hebron Church Road, Union, SC, 29379; or to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 128 Medical Science Building, Union, SC 29379.www.holcombefuneralhomes.com.S.R. Holcombe Funeral Home, Union, SCPaid Funeral Notice