The funeral service for Mr. Charles Lee Hightower, Jr., 93, of Columbia, SC, will be held 11 o’clock Wednesday, February 25, 2009, at Eau Claire Baptist Church (4427 Main St., Columbia) with The Rev. James A. Goudelock and The Rev. Yu-Fong Chong, Chaplain of Agape Senior, officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 o’clock, Tuesday evening, at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel (5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia). Memorials may be made to Boy’s Farm, PO Box 713, Newberry, SC 29108. Charlie was born in Upper Greenville County, March 29, 1915, the son of the late Charles Lee Hightower and Mary Augusta Miller Hightower. He graduated from Mt. View High School, Taylors, SC, and The Citadel, Charleston, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering. Following graduation, he was employed by the SC Highway Dept., Bridge Plans Division. Charlie was in the Army Reserve and served three years of active duty in the Pacific Theater and in Alaska during World War II. He attained the rank of captain. As part of the Corp of Engineers, Charlie was ordered to the Philippines where he spent a year on special assignment. After the war, he returned to the SC Highway Dept., and was later employed by Southeastern Concrete Sales, Inc., Cayce, to design and supervise construction and the operation of a prestress concrete plant to make parts for bridges. Charlie was employed by the SC Division of General Services to supervise the restoration of the Farmer Building at State Park. He was State representative on renovation of the Blatt and Gressette Buildings on the Capitol Complex. After retiring in 1979, Charlie enjoyed gardening and raising rhododendron. He was a member of Eau Claire Lions Club for 43 years and served a term as president. He was made a life member of Lions International. He was also a current member of Eau Claire Baptist Church, and a former member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, where he served as chairman of the deacons’ committee and assistant treasurer. Survivors include his beloved wife of 68 years, Thelma Mattie Owen Hightower; daughters, Cynthia H. Bramlett (Ralph) of Garden City Beach, Renee H. Berry of Fort Mill; son, Charles “Skip” Hightower, III (Kay) of Leesville; daughter-in-law, Sandra Wood Hightower of Prosperity; grandchildren, Neal Jones, Jesse Hightower, Michael Hightower, Keith Berry, Jennifer Berry Blackburn; great-grandchildren, Kyle Berry, Madison Berry, Dalton Grant, Lee Anna Blackburn, Annika Blackburn and Julie Hightower; and a sister, Louise Hightower of Columbia. In addition to his parents, Charlie was preceded in death by a son, Owen R. Hightower; grandson, Charles L. Hightower IV; brother, George W. Hightower; and son-in-law, J.L. Berry. www.ShivesFuneralHome.com (803) 754-6290 Tags: 1938
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