Gary Rister

Gary Wingard Rister, 85, of Prosperity, widower of Dolores “Dee” Lewis Rister, died Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at Providence Hospital.

Born on April 21, 1923 in Newberry, he was a son of the late James Berley and Louise Christina Merchant Rister. Mr. Rister was retired from the Navy and Louis Rich. He was a member of Mayer Memorial Lutheran Church where he was a member of the Lutheran Men. He was a lifetime member of the Navy Fleet Reserve Association, the Shriner’s and the Masons. He was also a member of the New Horizons of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.

Surviving is a son, Guy C. (Kathie) Rister of Chapin; daughters, Barbara E. Rister and Tricia (Butch) Price of Newberry; a brother, Charles Berley (Faye) Rister of Walterboro; grandchildren, David (Rachel) Rister, Brian Rister (Kelly Conoly, Pop’s special coffee buddy), Andy (Michelle) Doyle and Chris (Renee) Doyle; a great-granddaughter, Deanna Carolina Doyle; a sister-in-law, Helen Rister of Prosperity. Mr. Rister was predeceased by a brother, James Edward Rister.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Mayer Memorial Lutheran Church by the Rev. Dr. Mary Havens, Rev. Paul Wollner and Rev. Kem Thomas. Burial with full military honors will follow in Newberry Memorial Gardens. The family is at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Butch Price, 1500 Drayton Street, Newberry and will receive friends Friday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Mayer Memorial Lutheran Church General Fund, 1307 Drayton Street, Newberry, SC 29108 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Active pallbearers: David Rister, Brian Rister, Andy Doyle, Chris Doyle, Kent Haltiwanger, Jay Haltiwanger, Jody Haltiwanger, Anthony Matthews and Gregg Taylor

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