Arthur Owen Finley

Arthur Owen Finley, 87, of Lexington, South Carolina, passed away on Friday, April 21, 2023. He was born on September 3, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York to Arthur Edward Finley and Lillian Juanita Owen Finley. He spent the first 14 years of his life in Brooklyn, mainly on Flatbush Avenue and after that, his family moved to Oakland, New Jersey where he had helped his father build their new home.

Art, or Sonny as he was known by his family, spent the majority of his time playing sports. He developed into an outstanding athlete at Pompton Lakes High School and was voted best athlete his senior year. He amassed many awards including Allstate in both baseball and basketball and also held the school scoring record for most points in a game (42) until many years later when his record was broken (in the 1980s). While in high school, he met the love of his life, Alice Joan Buglino. He would spend the next 70 years with her until her passing on November 25, 2022.

Art enlisted in the military (Army) and served as an MP in Korea. After his reassignment back to the states, he and Alice where married and they moved to Pennsylvania where he was assigned to a top-secret facility in Pennsylvania. While he served his country, he also played baseball for the base team. He was later honorably discharged at the end of his commitment to his country. He also played for a short period of time with a minor league baseball team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals. Eventually he hung up his cleats when he and Alice started their family. Debra came first and was followed by Art and Brett.

He worked for Otis Elevator in New York and New Jersey and decided to pursue a different vocation when his union decided to strike again. He returned to school and began taking classes in broadcasting. His new career path would take him to Orangeburg, South Carolina where he was hired by WORG radio. Later, he and his family would move to Columbia, South Carolina, where he became the Sports Director and Weatherman at WNOK TV (now WLTX). At the time of his retirement, he was a journalist for the State Newspaper.

Art was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Alice, his parents and his sister. He is survived by his children, Debra Thwaites (Chet), Art Finley (Lannie) and Brett Finley (Belinda); grandchildren, AJ Finley, Elie Finley and Morgan Finley; his brother, Emmett Finley and his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Buglino and a host of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, April 28, 2023 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, with inurnment to follow at 3:00 pm at Fort Jackson National Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Finley family.