Rufus Medlock Jr.

Rufus Medlock Jr. COLUMBIA - Funeral service for Rufus Medlock, Jr., was held Thursday, November 10, 2016, at noon at Palmer Memorial Chapel, 1200 Fontaine Place, Columbia, SC, with interment following in Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Rufus Medlock, Jr., of 1639 Levity Street, departed this life on Saturday, October 29, 2016. The son of the late Nora Paige and Rufus Medlock, Sr., he was born July 3, 1936, in Jackson, Mississippi. Rufus enlisted in the United States Army at an early age in Bismarck, North Dakota, serving his country honorably for 26 years in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, retiring with the rank of staff sergeant at Fort Jackson. His military occupations included Airborne Army Ranger Green Beret, Delta Force Team/Airborne Infantry 75th Ranger Battalion, Paratrooper, Combat Medic, College Army College ROTC Command Sergeant. Rufus traveled to 17 countries of which his favorite was Australia. He was fluent in six languages. While in the Army he became an expert marksman competing with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU), winning many national and international shooting competitions in both the pistol and rifle. As a lifelong martial-artist he held a third-degree Black belt in Taekwondo and mastered many other forms of martial arts with expertise in hand to hand combat. He was also handpicked to become a leading self-defense instructor for the base while stationed in Berlin, Germany. Rufus Medlock, Jr. earned several individual medals and citations including: The Silver Star, the Bronze Star (V Device with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Purple Heart (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation medal, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Citation, and numerous unit awards. After his transition from the United States Army, Rufus (a lifelong learner) increased his education and earned an Associate's degree in Automotive Mechanics from Midlands Technical College. He then embarked on a second career with the S.C. State Highway Department as a Senior Heavy Mechanic Supervisor. Rufus was a state employee for 12 years earning numerous divisional and state awards for performance and service including Employee of the Year and before retiring. Still longing to serve as a professional solider, he became a member of the S.C. State National Guard and achieved the rank of command sergeant major. Always civic minded and willing to serve, he was an active member of the Fairwold Acres Neighborhood Association, also spearheading the establishment of the Combat Veterans of Columbia, SC, at the Veterans Administration. He was a lifetime volunteer for: The Disabled American Veterans (DAV), VFW Golden Knight All-Army Parachute Team, and the State National Guard Defense Force Disaster Preparedness Team. Rufus was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years Betty J. Medlock of Columbia, South Carolina, and a son, Rufus P. Medlock of Concord, North Carolina. He is survived by one son , Darren R. Medlock of Lorton, Virginia, six grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives and friends who will miss his presence dearly.