Joseph Earl Rankin Sr.

COLUMBIA Funeral service for Joseph Earl Rankin, Sr., 77, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015, at Bethel United Methodist Church, with entombment in Greenlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 11 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church in the fellowship hall. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Mr. Rankin died Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Born in Batesburg, he was a son of the late Winfield Rankin and Ethel Padgett Rankin. He was a graduate of Batesburg-Leesville High School and Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. Mr. Rankin received his masters from Vanderbilt University and further graduate studies from the University of South Carolina. Coach Rankin began his career at Dreher High School where he was assistant football coach, head baseball coach and later became head football coach and athletic director. He was an educator for Richland School District Two and retired from Dent Middle School. Mr. Rankin was an active member of Northeast Loins Club for over forty years. He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church. Surviving are his children, Joseph E. Rankin, Jr. (Laura) of Knoxville, Tenn., Jennifer Lynn Rankin of Irmo, S.C., Everett Winfield Rankin of Columbia, S.C.; grandchild, Robert Joseph Rankin of Knoxville, Tenn.; brother, David A. Rankin (Mildred) of Leesville, S.C.; nephew, David W. Rankin (Pamela) of Sumter, S.C.; and niece, Andrea Whitley (Colon) of Lexington, S.C. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Columbia Northeast Lions Club, 144 Bow String, Elgin, SC 29045.