Herbert Randall

Herbert Harold Randall, 101, of Bluffton, SC, passed away peacefully Saturday, July 3rd, 2021 at Sprenger Health Care, Okatie, SC. He was born on November 11, 1919 in Graniteville, SC to Claude William and Allie Franklin Randall.

He was raised in Graniteville, SC and graduated from Graniteville High School. At the age of 14, he was appointed to a four-year term as a United States Senate page for Senator James F. Byrnes of South Carolina, during which time he was selected as one of two pages to escort dignitaries to their positions on the inaugural platform for the second inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After his term as Senate page was over, he worked for the newly created National Archives in Washington, DC, working on the project that consolidated service records for Civil War soldiers. During this time, he also attended George Washington University and was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, serving as rush and social chair for four years. On June 25, 1942, he married Julia Josephine (Sheila) Fitzpatrick in Boston, MA, a co-worker from the National Archives. When World War II erupted, he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, CA. There, he was responsible for creating the national archival system by which all naval ships captain's logs were catalogued as well as the system for storing and organizing the personal possessions of seamen lost during naval battles. After the war, he was employed by the Frigidaire Appliance Division of the General Motors Company as a sales representative for South Carolina. In 1953, he joined General Electric Appliances, where he remained until his retirement in 1982. During this time, he held assignments in Atlanta, GA, Louisville, KY, Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC, spending the last 20 years of his career as the Television Sales Manager for the Mid-Atlantic area.

During the 37 years he lived in the Hillandale section of Silver Spring, MD, he was involved in a number of civic activities. He was the Crime Watch captain for his neighborhood and was given the Hillandale Crime Watch Community Service Award for his dedication. He organized fund raisers for Hillandale CHI Center (an organization that supports youth with disabilities). For his service, he was given a Community Recognition Award by that organization. He, along with several other dedicated Hillandale citizens, created the LabQuest Partnership, a task force that worked tirelessly at the federal, state, and local level, in conjunction with the Navy, for many years to repurpose the Naval Surface Warfare Center into the consolidated home of the Food and Drug Administration. He was a 4th degree member of the St. Camillus chapter of the Knights of Columbus, as well as serving as their Treasurer. He was awarded Knight of the Year for his many years of dedicated service. An avid golfer, he was a member of the University of Maryland Golf Club where he served as President of that club's Maryland Senior Golf Association. Herb and Sheila enjoyed many vacations to Hilton Head, SC where he was on the Board of Directors for their condo association. In 1999, Herb and Sheila moved to Leisure World in Silver Spring, MD. While there, he served as Treasurer for his condo complex and as chairman of the Golf and Greens Committee at the Leisure World Golf Club. After Sheila died in 2005, he remained at Leisure World until 2015, at which time he moved to Bloom at Belfair independent living facility in Bluffton, SC to be near family members. In 2019, at the age of 100 he was accepted for membership into the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, a recognition of which he was extremely proud.

Herbert is survived by six children, David H. (Susan) Randall, William T. Randall, Margaret B. (Walter Kearney) Randall, Paul F. Randall, Sheila M. Randall, and Michael J. (Lori Andiman) Randall; 7 grandchildren, Jessica Randall, Scott (Marit) Randall, Jennifer (Jonathan) Germer, Kelly Randall, Rachel Randall, Rebecca (Michael Landis) Randall, and Kevin Randall; 5 great grandchildren, Annika Randall, Kristoffer Randall, Brooke Germer, Jake Germer, and Luke Germer, as well as numerous other relatives.

Herbert was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Allie Randall; two brothers, Franklin Randall and James Randall; four sisters, Gladys (Buddy) Jackson, Nora (Harold) Rebman, Burnelle (Benjamin, Al) Yaun Lucky, and Marion (Shaw) Bussey; his wife Sheila; and daughter-in-law Bonnie Lambert Randall.

Visitation will be at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 15663 Norbeck Blvd., Silver Spring, MD on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 from 11:30AM - 12:00PM followed by a Funeral Mass from 12:00PM - 1:00PM. Immediately following the service, burial will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CHI Centers, Inc., 10501 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20903.