Marion Pinckney Shuler Jr.,96, of Orangeburg, SC, passed away Thursday, February 29, 2024. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, February 3, 2024, in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Marion was born in Orangeburg, a son of the late Marion Pinckney Shuler and Ruth Brown Mewborne. Marion graduated from Orangeburg High School and The Citadel. He was a member of the Citadel Class of 1948 graduating Summa Cum Laude, number one in his class and received a degree in physics. Marion went directly to Washington D.C.to work for the Department of Defense and the Naval Research Laboratories. He worked at Los Alamos, New Mexico on the hydrogen bomb and was present in the South Pacific for the explosion of the hydrogen bomb at Enewetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Marion later worked on nuclear energy as a fuel for submarines. After his Department of Defense service ended, he began working for E. G. and G. Corporation in Boston, Massachusetts. Marion later formed his own company, HSS Corporation for research. His last project with this corporation was on the new Cooper River Bridge in Charleston. It was an installation of a warning system for traffic due to heavy fog on the bridge.
Marion retired in 1992 and returned to Orangeburg with two pianos, a multitude of books, DVD’s and records. His art collection was eclectic and large. He loved traveling and Saluda, N.C. was one of his favorite places to visit. He enjoyed hiking with his cousin Mary Louisa Fairey, identifying plants in the woods and taking photographs with his myriad of cameras. Marion was active with the Orangeburg Historical Society and Orangeburg Ham Radio Club. Following a fall years ago, Marion lived at Jolley Acres Nursing Home. He was a talented pianist and surprised the residents by playing one day. Sadly, he had forgotten by the next day. Dementia robbed him of his beautiful mind and his many talents.
He is survived by his sister Ruth Shuler McLeod and her husband Harold Jr. of Greensboro, NC; his brother John F. Shuler and his wife Jane Clinge Shuler of Orangeburg; his nieces and nephews Mollie McLeod Bergston, Carolyn McLeod Gaskins, Harold M. McLeod, III, Amy Shuler Kratzer, Ellen Shuler Hinrichs and John F. Shuler, Jr. and many great nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family would like to thank Lillie Sowell for her tireless and patient care for Marion as she served as his chef, chauffeur and banker. Thank you to Jolley Acres, for taking care of Marion’s needs and making him comfortable.
Marion, because of his great love of books and history, would appreciate any memorials you may wish to send to the following: Friends of the Library Capital Campaign, 1645 Russell Street, Orangeburg, S.C. 29115 or Orangeburg County Historical Society, 1421 Middleton St., Orangeburg, S.C.29115