Doug Kearse
December 10, 1923 – June 3, 2015
Douglas “Doug” Weissinger Kearse, 91, died Wednesday, June 3, 2015. Born in Olar, SC, December 10, 1923, in Bamberg County, he was a son of the late Bernard Vance Kearse, Sr. and Leda Mae Ritter Kearse. During his teenage years the family moved to Columbia where he attended and graduated from Columbia High School in 1941.
He was drafted and entered the United States Navy during World War II and served as a 3rd Class Gunners Mate on the USS Carroll (DE-171), a Cannon-class destroyer escort. He served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Theatre from 1942-1945. He returned to Columbia where he met his beautiful wife, Evelyn. They were married on April 12, 1947 and celebrated 67 wonderful years together.
He worked for the South Carolina Highway Department for 44 years where he retired as Superintendent of Equipment Depot. Never one to be idle, he continued to work part-time in several capacities including the Carolina Coliseum from the time it opened in 1968 until 2008. He was a lifetime member of the Dutch Fork Masonic Lodge #402 as well as a longtime member of DESA (Destroyer Escort Sailors Assoc.) and regularly attended their navy reunions as well as serving as a host for one in Columbia. He was also a member of the American Legion.
Mr. Kearse loved his church and was a member of Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church where he was very involved in many activities and other church functions. He loved to travel, work in his yard and garden and especially loved to dance. He enjoyed shagging and knew how to cut-a-rug on the dance floor. Doug has always been known for his honesty and friendly personality as well as his deep caring and love for his family and friends.
He is survived by his children, Larry Douglas Kearse, Sr. (Charlene); daughter, Janet Kearse Watkins; three grandchildren, L. Douglas Kearse, Jr., Corrie Lynn Brannan (Jamie) and Savannah Marie Watkins; nieces Lynne K. Nantz (Tim), Karene L. McMillan, Cheri L. McKechnie (Tim), and Angela D. Hattaway; nephews, Bernard V. Kearse, III (Mary Clare), Phillip W. Kearse, and C. Nelson McMillan (Marlene); grandnieces and grandnephews; sisters-in-law, Hazel C. McMillan and Brenda Saunders Hardin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn C. McMillan Kearse and older brother, Bernard “Skip” V. Kearse Jr. and his wife Carolyn L. Kearse.