Dr. Sewall Kemble Oliver III

IRMO - S. Kemble Oliver, III, 76, passed into the loving arms of his Lord on December 4, 2016. Kemble was a jovial soul with a hearty laugh and always a story to tell. Born in Columbia, SC, January 3, 1940, son of S. K. Oliver Jr., and Gwendolyn McKinnon Oliver, Kemble attended Hand Junior High School and Dreher High School, before receiving a BA from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. After serving in the Marine reserves, and learning that heat stroke would prevent him from his dreams of forestry, Kemble pursued higher education, receiving his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of North Carolina and his Doctorate in Reading Education from the University of Georgia. He served as Director of Reading Education for several school districts, before coming home to Columbia to serve as Director of Project Reach at the University of South Carolina, connecting the entire state’s network of libraries for online sharing, long before there was the Internet. He later retired from years of service with the SC Budget and Control Board. Kemble loved to spend time outdoors either in the swamps of his youth, the mountain of his Alma Mater in Sewanee, TN, or his longtime home at Lake Murray. He taught his children and grandchildren not just the love of fishing but also the love of a good fish story. Always ready to launch into a tale for anyone who would listen. He could weave a tale as good as any of the books which seemed to always be in his hand. Kemble touched the lives of so many and will be remembered fondly as a true friend, a man who never met a stranger and never judged others, accepting everyone for who they were and always providing encouragement and praise. He was a devoted and loving husband to his wife, Connie, for 55 years before her passing in July of this year. He was a great father attending every football, basketball, baseball or soccer game, who spent time teaching life through story, with hunting and fishing trips providing the atmosphere and backdrop to the moments. He was a proud grandfather and great-grandfather, who could never get enough of having the children around, sharing time at his home on Lake Murray where he spent many a day regaling friends and family with his stories, filled with laughter. He is survived by his children Kem Oliver, and wife Sherry of Irmo, SC, Robert Oliver, and wife Becca of Winston-Salem, NC, Jessica Goff, and husband Paul of West Columbia, SC. His six grandchildren: George Conniffe Oliver, 23, Ellen Bennett Oliver, 21, Susan McKinnon Oliver, 19, Kaiya McKinnon Goff, 10, Haliana Rippy Goff, 8, and Parker Kale Goff, 6; great-grandaughter, Sadie Rose Snipes 8 months; brothers, Russell Timothy Oliver and Charles McKinnon Oliver. The family will receive friends with a small reception beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home with services to follow. Services will be held Friday December 9, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo, with a short graveside service to follow in Elmwood cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to Alzheimers Association, South Carolina Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd. Ste. L, Anderson, SC 29621. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.