Obituary of James Findley

<!-- FH = Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown -->James Elliott FindleyEasleyMr. James Elliott Findley, 81, died at his home on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.Surviving are his wife of fifty-eight years, Floride Agnew Findley, formerly of Starr, SC; one son, James Elliott Findley, Jr.; three daughters, Rosemary F. Duncan (Barry), Helen F. Hester (Scott), and Floride F. Caldwell (Nick), all of Easley; nine grandchildren, Jorden, Anna and Bryant Duncan, Jennifer H. Going (Curtis), Daniel Hester and Anna Catherine, Caroline, Mary Helen and Abigail Caldwell; one great-grandson, Jameson Going; and two sisters, Marian Findley Smith and Catherine Findley Smith (John).Born in Anderson on June 4, 1931, Mr. Findley was the son of the late John James and Helen Eskew Findley. A graduate of Anderson Boys High School, Class of '48-'49, the first graduates to attend twelve years of school in the state of South Carolina, he also graduated The University of South Carolina School of Pharmacy in 1954, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Fraternity, and a member of the Air Force ROTC.Called to active duty in 1955, Mr. Findley served in the US Air Force as a B-25 Pilot at Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, Texas and as an instructor at the Aviation Cadet Pre-Flight School (forerunner to the Air Force Academy) at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.As a young entrepreneur, Mr. Findley opened Findley's Pharmacy on Main Street Easley in 1959 and operated there for thirteen years. He became one of the first franchise owners of The Medicine Shoppe, eventually owning five pharmacies in Easley, Anderson, Greenville, Greer and Clinton, SC. During his career, he was a member of the South Carolina Pharmacy Association, the American Pharmacy Association, and served on the Owner's Advisory Council for Medicine Shoppes International.A life-long Presbyterian, and a member of Easley Presbyterian Church for more than fifty years, he served as Deacon, Elder and most recently Trustee. He truly enjoyed God's beauty through his love of gardening and flying and treasured his brotherhood with his '48-'49 classmates monthly gatherings and with his contemporaries at Joe's Coffee Club.Also believing in serving one's community and sharing his talents, Mr. Findley was an active member of several civic organizations: The Easley Jaycees, The Easley Lions Club and the Easley Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he served on the Pickens County Airport Commission from the initial planning and construction phase through its first major expansion. In 1999, he was elected to the Easley Combined Utility Commission, serving twelve years, two years as chairman.The family will receive friends at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown from 5:30 until 7:30 PM Friday, March 1, 2013.Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, March 2, 2013, at Easley Presbyterian Church with the burial immediately following in Robinson Memorial Gardens, 1425 Powdersville Road, Easley, SC 29642.Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are the graduates of Anderson Boys High School Class of '48-'49 and members of Joe's Coffee Club.Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Capital Building Campaign of Easley Presbyterian Church, 200 South First Street, Easley, SC 29640. The family is at the home, 200 Asbury Circle, Easley, SC 29640.Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.