Edward "Buddy" Counts

Prosperity -- Capt. Edward Wheeler “Buddy” Counts, Jr. died on April 14, 2011 after a courageous battle with mantle cell lymphoma. Born in Prosperity, SC, he was the son of the late Edward Wheeler Counts, Sr. and Pearl Faust Counts; and the beloved stepson of Frances Ruff Counts. Captain Counts was a passionate aviator who had a long and distinguished career with Piedmont Airlines and US Airways after his service in the United States Navy. He was a graduate of Mid-Carolina High School , Newberry College , Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University , and a doctoral candidate at Northcentral University . Ever the proud alumnus, he served as president of the Newberry College President’s Club and endowed a scholarship. During his career as a commercial airline pilot, Captain Counts was an active member and officer of the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA). He served proudly as a 32 ^nd degree Mason in the Greenville Hejaz Shrine Club and the Masonic Lodge Alpine 208 of Clover, SC. Enthusiastically patriotic, Captain Counts enjoyed working with the Celebrate Freedom Foundation in Columbia, SC and as an academic instructor at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, SC. Additionally, he was a member of American Legion Post 6 in Columbia. Captain Counts was also an active member of First United Methodist Church of Clover.

In addition to his stepmother, survivors include his wife, Connie Chalk Counts of Clover; daughter Dr. (Melissa) Reid Counts Toth and husband Fred of Campobello, SC; son Captain Zachary Francis Counts, USAF, of Phoenix, AZ; brother Captain Jake Stevenson Counts and wife Marge of Brooks, GA; former wife and mother of his daughter Dinah Dearman Long of West Columbia, SC; mother-in-Law Eula Chalk; sister-in-law Harrilyn Chalk, and many special cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Steven Madden of Lexington Oncology and Dr. Joseph Evans of Chapin Family Practice for the care and concern they have shown to Capt. Counts and the Counts family.

A funeral service will be held at 4:00pm on Sunday, April 17 at Wightman United Methodist Church in Prosperity. Graveside service will follow immediately at Prosperity Cemetery . Pall bearers will be Ernie Shealy, Perry Shealy, Brycen Counts, Jake Counts Allen Danielsen, Averil “Bubba” McCoy, Todd Clamp, and Joseph Evans. Honorary pall bearers will be members of the Piedmont Silver Eagles and the Newberry College President’s Club. Visitation with the family will be held at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home in Newberry from 6:00 to 8:00 on Saturday, April 16. A service of remembrance will occur at 6:00pm on Tuesday, April 19 at the First United Methodist Church of Clover with a visitation to follow at the family home in Clover. Honorary Pall bearers will be members of the Piedmont Silver Eagles and Masonic Lodge Alpine 208.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Buddy Counts Scholarship Fund, Attn: Dept. of Institutional Advancement, Newberry College , 2100 College St. , Newberry , SC 29108

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