Ralph Connellly

Mr. Ralph Dempsey Connelly, 83, of 1108 Sidneys Road, Walterboro, entered into his state of eternal rest Tuesday morning, July 20, 2010, at the Trident Medical Center in North Charleston.



Funeral services will be conducted 11 oclock Saturday morning, July 24, 2010, from Doctors Creek Baptist Church, 126 Doctors Creek Road, Walterboro. Interment with military honors will follow in the church cemetery.



Mr. Connelly was born December 15, 1926, in Colleton County and was a son of the late Joseph Connelly and the late Mary Breland Connelly. He always possessed pride for his country and felt a need to serve in any way possible, before his time in the service he was a member of the home guard under the supervision of Mr. James Fishburn, and then served his country in the United States Army during World War II, having been stationed under the command of General George Patton. His time in service awarded him with many citations and meritorious decorations, but most notably he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in service. He first worked for Georgia Power before moving to Coastal Electric Cooperative where he worked for thirty-four years where he started as a lineman and retired as a foreman. His last employment was with Rhodes Oil Company in Walterboro where he worked for them in general maintenance.



He was a lifelong member of Doctors Creek Baptist Church where he had been involved with the Christmas and flower committee as well as many other aspects of the churchs work. He was a member of the Walterboro Post of the American Legion and will be fondly remembered for his love of fishing the local creeks of Colleton County, his love and talent at wood crafting and construction of various furniture pieces, and his love of sports more especially the Atlanta Braves Baseball team.



Surviving are: his wife of fifty-two years, Mrs. Nadine Pye Connelly; three daughters, Beth Connelly Benton and her husband Joey of Walterboro, Wendy Connelly Boyd and her husband Tommy of Lexington, and Brenda Connelly Timmons and her husband Mac of Moncks Corner; two brothers, William Dawson Connelly of San Antonio, Texas and Monroe Dean Connelly and his wife Carolyn of Walterboro; and two sisters, Mary Anne Connelly Cuccinelli and her husband Tony of West Palm Beach, Florida and Norma Connelly Stone of Orangeburg. There are nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; as well as his mother-in-law, Mrs. Annie W. Pye of Walterboro; and a brother-in-law, Dunk Pye and his wife Joyce of Greenville.



For those that so desire, the family has suggested that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to: Doctors Creek Baptist Church, Post Office Box 2, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488.



Memorial messages and thoughts of condolence as well as memories of Ralph may be shared with the Connelly family by visiting: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.



Family and friends are invited to call from 6:00 until 8:00 this Friday evening at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.

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