Joseph Sloan Grugan

Joseph Sloan Grugan, 77, of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away on November 1, 2025. He was born on December 17, 1947, at Providence Hospital. He was the son of Joseph Dominic Grugan and Mildred Rae Sloan. Mr. Grugan's paternal grandparents were Dominic Joseph Grugan and Agnes Shields Grugan of Glenolden, PA. His maternal grandparents were George Dawson Sloan and Eula Rae Sligh Sloan of Columbia, SC.

He was baptized, confirmed, and a lifelong member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, serving on ministry boards and elected to three terms on the Ebenezer Congregation Council, Executive Committee, and is an Honorary Council Member. He was awarded a lifetime membership in the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Auxiliary by Ebenezer Lutheran Church.

He was educated in the Columbia public school system attending Satchel Ford and Brennan Elementary, graduating from A. C. Flora High School in 1966 and USC in 1970, with a BS degree in Education. He earned a Block C after serving four years as a Student Athletic Trainer with the USC Athletic Department.

He was a member of Lake Murray Boating & Sports Club serving as Commodore, Vice-Commodore, and member of the Board. He was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and Washington Street Methodist Soup Kitchen for many years. He participated in several successful athletic teams in his youth. He was a pitcher/outfielder on the 1958 and 1959 S. B. McMaster Dixie Youth championship baseball teams in the Civitan League at Valley Park, Columbia, SC. In 1966, he was a member of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church Basketball team coached by Frank Johnson, Sr., winning the championship for the City of Columbia YMCA Church Basketball League. In 1972 he was a member of the Todd & Moore Sporting Goods City of Columbia Slow Pitch Softball League Championship Team.

He was first employed by Todd & Moore Sporting Goods and Epes-Fitzgerald Paper Co., Columbia, SC, Atlantic Publishing and Paper Co., Tabor City, NC, International Paper Co., Auburndale, Fl., before returning to Columbia to work with Builders Specialties, Inc. He was President of Joseph Grugan Co. from 1991 until 2006. He was then hired by Lutheran Family Services Carolinas as a Job Developer in the Refugee Resettlement Office and worked his final years helping his refugee clients find their way on their journey toward self-sufficiency in their new homeland. Refugee Resettlement became his most personally rewarding life's work.

Mr. Grugan is predeceased by his parents and first wife Carol Holland, the mother of his children.

He is survived by his wife of 40+ years, Connie Waddell Grugan and her special extended family whom he loved. He leaves behind his twins Ashley Grugan Starks (Bryan), Beaufort, SC, and Joseph Ferris Grugan (Shana), Pawleys Island, SC, and five Grand Angels! ... Mary Sloan Morris Fravel (Kile), Caroline Morris Bowie (Imani), Sarah Grace Morris (fiancé Jack Buddenberg), Mildred "Millie" Ballew Grugan, Joseph "McCall" Grugan, his brother William “Bill” Allen Grugan (Cindy), Lexington, SC, and sister Jane Grugan McManus (Pete), Chapin, SC. He especially valued his nieces AnnMarie McManus (Ali), Jade Clark (Colin), his nephews, William “Will” Allen Grugan, Jr. (Candace), Joseph Jonathan Grugan, Brett Michael Grugan, and Robert “Kent” Cales, IV, who enjoyed many outings called "Extravaganzas" with their Uncle Joe in their youth – fishing, swimming at Lake Murray, golf at Sedgewood and Fort Jackson, and kicking the football on the Clemson field, and special great nephews and nieces William “Liam” Allen Grugan III, Miles Jones Grugan, Sloane Elizabeth Grugan, Sawyer Kent Cales, Lily Jean Clark and Ivy Rose Clark.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, with visitation following the service in the church parlor.

Honorary pallbearers are Dan McLeod, Steve Garris, Albert Whiteside, and Robert Dawkins.

The family would like to thank Dr. Bradley Word and his staff for their excellent care over the years.

Joe requested memorials be made to his beloved Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1301 Richland St., Columbia, SC 29201.