Memorial service for Dr. William Franklin Luce Jr., 80, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, December 21, 2013, at Washington Street United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. A private burial will be held at a later date. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Dr. Luce passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 19, 2013. Bill was born March 1, 1933 in Columbia, to the late William Franklin Luce and Marian MacFarlane Luce. He was the devoted husband of 51 years to Lynn Baumeister Luce. Bill attended A.C. Moore Elementary School, Hand Junior High and graduated from Columbia High School in 1951.While at Columbia High he played on the basketball team and was a member of the first Kiwanis Key Club in Columbia and in 1949 he was one of eight students who attended the annual Kiwanis Key Club Convention in Washington DC. Bill attended the Citadel where he was a member of Echo Company and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Bill then went on to attend the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston where he received his medical degree in 1959. He completed his Internship at The University of Alabama Medical School in Birmingham in 1960. This was followed by two years of service as a Captain in the United States Army in Korea and at Fort Myer, Virginia. In 1962, upon the completion of his military service, he returned to the University of Alabama Medical School for a three year residency in Internal Medicine. In 1965, he returned to Charleston for a fellowship in Gastroenterology under the direction of Dr. Vince Moseley. In 1966, Bill went into private practice in Internal Medicine in Columbia with Dr. Charles Holmes where he continued to serve as a compassionate caregiver and healer for more than 30 years. During his career, Bill served on the Board of Trustees and as the Chief of Staff of Richland Memorial Hospital. He was President of the Columbia Medical Society; President of the Camellia Ball; President of the Medical Journal Club; member of Richland Sertoma Club and Forest Lake Country Club. He also served on the board of visitors for MUSC in Charleston and as an adjunct professor at the USC School of Medicine in Columbia. His closest friend’s still share stories today of the legendary fun loving shenanigans of his youth, while his patient’s talk of his gentle and kind bedside manner. He was an avid reader and enjoyed playing golf and growing roses to give to friends and patients. He loved visiting the beaches of South Carolina with his family and friends and spending time with his six grandchildren who affectionately called him Doc. Bill is survived by his wife, Lynn; son, William Arthur Luce and spouse Laura Lynn and their children, Robert, William, and Avery of Greenville; daughter Catherine Luce “Cassie” Plaster and husband Will and their children, Carter, Miller, and Hunter of Shelby, North Carolina; twin sisters, Ann DeLeslie Fishburne (Skottowe) and May Luce Ramsey (Marshall) both of Columbia, their children and grandchildren and beloved cousins, Sidney Rutledge Thompson of Greenville and Margaret Jackson of Columbia. The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of Baptist Medical Center, Heartland, Atria, and Compassionate Care Hospice who affectionately took care of “Dr. Bill.” Memorials may be made to Washington Street United Methodist Church, 1401 Washington Street, Columbia SC 29201 or charity of one’s choice . Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com. Tags: 1955
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