Ralph Eugene Chasteen, age 83, passed away Oct. 15, 2017.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Canup Chasteen; children, Tara Garrett and husband, Greg, of Anderson, South Carolina, Susan Franc, of Allen, Texas, and Stacy Franks and wife, Gay, of Killen, Alabama; grandchildren, Jessica Garrett, Erin Franc, and Kaitlyn, Savanna and Joshua Franks; two great-grandchildren; four sisters, Sylvia Rutledge, of California, and Ella Mae Timms, of Belton, South Carolina, and Juanita Butler and Faye Mull, of Anderson, South Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A native of Belton, South Carolina, he had previously lived in Spartanburg before moving to Alabama. He was the son of the late Thomas E. and Viola Cheek Chasteen, of Belton. Also preceding him in death were his sister, Estelle Connelly, of Columbia, South Carolina, and a son-in-law, Rod Franc, of Allen, Texas.
Ralph served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 until 1956 with service in Korea. From 1957 until 1973, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a flight engineer including a one-year tour in Vietnam. He retired from the military in 1973 and pursued a career with Michelin Tire Corporation, Anderson, South Carolina plant from 1974 through 1993.
He was a licensed private pilot having received his pilot training from White’s Aviation in Anderson. He was a major in the Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron 39074. He was a member of the VFW Post 5996, DAV Anderson Chapter, USS Delta Shipmates Association, and the Caribou Association Vietnam. He moved to Madison, Alabama in 2003 then moved to Florence in 2007. Ralph was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was an avid golfer and a friend to all who knew him.
Visitation will be today from 5-7 p.m. at Spry-Williams Funeral Home, Florence, Alabama. A visitation will be held in South Carolina on Friday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McDougald Funeral Home in Anderson. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial, with full military honors, will be at Garden of Memories, Incorporated, Garden of Faith, Belton-Honea Path Highway, Belton, South Carolina.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. You may sign the guest register at sprywilliams.com.
