Grover Aubrey Bise

LEXINGTON - Grover Aubrey “Sonny” Bise died Tuesday, October 20, 2015, in Lexington, S.C. “Sonny,” as everyone knew him was 84.

He was born in New Brookland, S.C on July 10, 1931, the son of Rial North and Harmon Bise. His father died when Sonny was young, so he was raised by his hard-working mom and grandmother, Blanche North. Growing up he knew every street of the mill hill surrounding the Mount Vernon textile plant. Nearby was the Congaree River where he swam on steamy summer days — and got switched every time his granny found out.

Sonny first made his name on the football field as a star tight end at Brookland Cayce High School, where he also lettered in baseball and basketball. A tall and tough competitor, he played in the 1950 Shrine Bowl as one of the top players in the state. He later was enshrined in both the Brookland Cayce and South Carolina Football halls of fame. At his funeral on Sunday, 11 of his former teammates will serve as honorary pallbearers.

But more important than sports was the birthday party a friend invited him to in the 8th grade. That’s where he spotted “a pretty girl in a yellow sweater,” Barbara Ann Williams, who shared the rest of his life. The football hero and head majorette were high school sweethearts, then newlyweds, then young parents of Mike, Donna and Tom. Later they were simply “grandmommy and grandaddy” to Kristian, Hannah and Cory, whom they loved just the same, and spoiled a good bit more.

Sonny joined the U.S. Air Force after high school in 1951. For a guy who had never traveled far from home, the next 23 years took him around the world, on tours to Japan, Turkey, Thailand and D.C. It was during the Cold War and Sonny worked in intelligence as a communications specialist. When he retired from the Air Force in 1974, Barbara and Sonny returned to South Carolina, where they reconnected with lifetime friends and lived for the last 40 years.

Always a South Carolinian at heart, he was the most loyal of Gamecock fans. A scholarship donor, a season ticket holder, he rarely missed a game, either from his seats at Williams-Brice or from his recliner. All family activities were planned around Gamecock Saturdays, including several bowl game trips.

Sonny didn’t say much, but when he talked you’d better listen. He was honor-bound and determined. A smoker for most of his life, he crumpled his last pack of Winston’s the day the first of his grandkids was born. They were worth every extra year, Sonny figured, and he doted on them to the end. Not a Christmas went by that “grandaddy” didn’t come up with the perfect gifts for every family member who crowded into the Bise living room.

He was a tech geek at 80 —“not bad for a country boy from the mill hill,” he would say — and also the family archivist. Each night he would send out his “pic of day” in a group email. They were photos he collected over the years from his childhood, his kids, his grandkids and the wonderful life they all shared. He sent the last on Oct. 20.

Seven months earlier, his wife of 66 years had passed away on a beautiful spring evening. On the night Sonny died, a brilliant Carolina half-moon rose in the clear, black sky — almost as if Barbara were smiling from above. And so it was: Sonny was back at her side.

Survivors include daughter, Donna Bise and husband Greg Ring of Charlotte, NC; sons, Michael Bise and wife Deborah of Columbia, SC; Tom Bise and wife Susan of Columbia, SC; and grandchildren, Kristian Bise Ring and wife Alicia Storin of Milwaukee, WI, Cory Bise Ring of San Diego, CA, and Hannah Bise of Charleston, SC.

The family will receive friends at a visitation at Providence Lutheran Church, where Barbara and Sonny were longtime members, from 3 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25. Services will follow in the sanctuary with burial in the church cemetery.

Thank you to the Providence congregation and Pastor Patti Sue Burton Pye for their unending support of the Bise family.

Memorials may be made to Providence Lutheran Church, 840 Old Chapin Road, Lexington SC 29072. www.providencelutheranchurch.com

Or to Lexington County Arts Association, P.O. Box 412, Lexington, SC29071.

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