Duncan W. Tyson Sr. FLORENCE Funeral services for Duncan Wright Tyson Sr., 84, will be at 11 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church in Florence, conducted by Dr. Barry Jenkins. Burial will follow immediately at Mount Hope Cemetery, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home.Mr. Tyson died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, in a local hospital. He was born Oct. 9, 1923, in Florence, a son of the late William Brooks Tyson and Georgie Stackley Tyson. He was a graduate of Florence High School and attended The Citadel until volunteering for the Army in 1943. Mr. Tyson, a member of the 66th U.S. Infantry Division, was shipped on the SS Cheshire from England to France on Christmas Eve 1944. During this trip another troop ship, the Belgian Trooper SS Leopoldville, carrying part of his regiment, was torpedoed and sank, killing 700 men. He and the remainder of the 66th Division went directly into action in France and helped to contain 50,000 Germans. He was proud of his life membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars. After the war, Mr. Tyson returned to Florence where he joined Mr. Pete Miller as an owner and operator of a retail grocery business in the downtown area for more than 50 years. He was a lifelong committed member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and treasurer. For many years he was a faithful member of the Lawson Rain Sunday School Class. Throughout his life, Mr. Tyson was an avid outdoorsman who particularly enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends. After retirement, he became an active member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club. Mr. Tyson could often be found on the tennis courts enjoying a good competitive game of doubles. Recognized as a Master Duplicate Bridge player in Florence, Mr. Tyson continued, throughout his life, to take great pleasure in his standing weekly bridge games. Known for his friendliness, quick wit and jokes, Mr. Tyson will not only be missed by his family but also many friends and acquaintances. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Martha Bunn Tyson of the home; sons Duncan Wright Tyson Jr., MD (Genia) and James Bunn Tyson (Dawn), and daughter, Elizabeth Tyson Norris, all of Florence; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Tyson Gibson (Michael) of Irmo, Duncan Wright Tyson III, of Florence and Martha Barrett Norris of Atlanta; and a great-granddaughter, Emma Fields Gibson of Irmo. He is also survived by a sister, Betty Tyson Rhame of Sumter, a brother, William Brooks Tyson Jr., of Florence and many nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church, 700 Park Ave., Florence, SC 29501. Tags: 1945
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