Frank E. Gulley

COLUMBIA - Master Sergeant Frank E. Gulley, 86, passed away peacefully on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2017 at his home in Columbia, SC. He was born in Lexington, SC on January 19, 1931 to the late Willie Lee (Bill) Gulley and Sarah E. Corley Gulley. Frank graduated from Lexington High School (class of 1947) and joined the U.S. Air Force in March 1948. During his career, he was stationed overseas in Okinawa, Japan, England, and Germany. His stateside service was at Shaw, Sheppard, McCoy, and McClellan Air Force bases. In 1968, Frank was “Airman of the Year” at McCoy AF Base in Florida. His military career was as Crew Chief on C-45, C-47, and C-119 aircraft, and later as a Performance Engineer Instructor on RC-121 (Connies) and KC-97 aircraft. He amassed 15,000 flying hours and flew to all areas of the world. His final two years were as a Flight Engineer Instructor at Shepherd Air Force Base, Texas. He retired in 1968 after proudly serving his country for 20 years, 4 months, and 28 days.

Through the discipline of his military service Frank developed skills to create prosperous businesses. He worked in manufacturing in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania until retiring again as Operations Manager for a steel distribution company. He then became a Sales Representative for several steel companies serving the hydraulic industry until he retired for the third time in 2013.

Because of his humble beginnings, Frank worked hard, maintained a positive attitude and developed a desire to help others. He will be remembered as an exemplary example of a generous man. Portraying Santa Claus for many charitable groups and organizations was especially important to Frank.

Frank is survived by Troy McLaughlin, his loving wife of 21 years; sons, Brian and Barry Gulley of Tacoma, WA, son, Brad Gulley(Colleen) of Salisbury, NC, and step-son, Emerson Phillips of Columbia, SC. He is survived also by grandsons, Brian, Jr. (Jenny) of New York, NY, Jeffrey of Washington, DC, Matthew and Travis of Wells, Maine, and Mason and Tate of Germantown, TN.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 17, 2017 from 4:00 until 6:00pm at the family home. If you need directions, please call the funeral home. Funeral services will be at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lexington, SC on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 3:00pm with burial to follow in the Pilgrim Church cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested for Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter, P.O. Box 3395, Columbia, SC 29230, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 119 N. Church St., Lexington, SC 29072 or Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1430 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29071. Funeral arrangements are provided by Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington, SC.