Eugene Barney Rawls

COLUMBIA - A funeral service for Eugene Barney Rawls, 91, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2017, at Bethany Chapel, 2917 Park Street, Columbia, with burial in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from one hour prior to the service at the church. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Mr. Rawls passed away Monday, January 2, 2017. Born on August 14, 1925 in Columbia, he was a son of the late Eugene B. Rawls, Sr. and Iva Belle Seay Rawls. Eugene “Gene” was a graduate of Dreher High School and attended Lees-McRae College. In his teenage years, he was a Boy Scout. In 1953 he married June. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Early in his career he and his brother, James, ran Rawls’ Brothers Framing Shop and later worked for R.L. Bryan. In the early 1970s he purchased his Pepperidge Farm franchise which he ran until his retirement. Eugene was a servant of Christ who was in fellowship at Bethany Chapel, where he was an Elder. Surviving are his sons, Michael E. Rawls of Jacksonville, Florida and Jonathan C. Rawls (Chrissi) of Greer; grandchildren, Brooke Rawls and Jonae Rawls both of Greer; brother, James T. Rawls (Johnnie Patrick) of Greenville; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, June Lott Rawls and daughter, Ruthanne Peck. Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International, 5106-B Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29204. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.