Howard Craton Dacus

ASHEVILLE NC - Howard Craton Dacus, beloved husband of Margaret LaBoone Dacus for over 63 years, of 348 Lakeshore Drive, Asheville, N.C., passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Mr. Dacus was born in Dacusville, S.C. on October 8, 1926, the son of the late Prue Milton Dacus and the late Vera Elaine Friddle Dacus. The oldest of nine children, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Asheville for over 50 years. He graduated from Dacusville High School and attended Clemson College. Surviving in addition to his wife, Margaret, are his brother, Prue M. Dacus Jr and wife, Kathy, of Pickens, South Carolina; and his sisters, Olivia Batson of Columbia, South Carolina, Marcelle Sandzen of Vero Beach, Florida, Linda Jones and her husband, Joe, of Easley, South Carolina, Sheryl Dean “Deanie” Miller and her husband, JB, of Anderson, South Carolina. In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by two brothers, William Grover Dacus of Greenville, South Carolina and Kenneth Harold Dacus of Dacusville, South Carolina and one sister, Clara Hamilton of Dacusville, South Carolina. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Willa Faye Dacus (Kenneth) and brother-in-law, Frank Hamilton (Clara). His extended family includes 24 nieces and nephews. Howard entered military service in October 1946. He served as a U.S. Army military policeman while stationed in Japan with the 720th Military Police Battalion. He assisted the Provost Marshall in quelling riots and making raids, patrolled streets and roads maintaining order and checking military and civilian passes. He retired after 30 years as General Manager of Ingle-Mayflower Transfer and Storage Company in Asheville, NC. The Greenville firm of Smith Dray Line and Storage Co., Inc. purchased the Ingle Transfer and Storage Company to become Ingle-Mayflower and hired Mr. Dacus as their General Manager. Prior to this, he worked seven years in Smith’s sales department and had wide experience in the moving and warehouse business. His contagious smile and mischievous sense of humor will long be remembered. A memorial message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.dunbarfuneralhomedevine.com. Memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, September 30, 2014, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Columbia, S.C. with a luncheon to be held immediately following the service to celebrate his life. A private burial service will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Easley, South Carolina. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mr. Dacus’ honor to the American Heart Association, 190 Knox Abbott Drive, Suite 301, Cayce, SC 29033 or to a charity of one’s choice.