Thomas Preston Gillespie

Funeral services to honor the life of Mr. Gillespie will be 3:00 PM Thursday in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be at Liberty Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:45 PM prior to the service at the mortuary.

Thomas Preston Gillespie, Sr., 72, of 105 Dirocco Lane, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 16, 2015 in Charleston, SC.

Born in Anderson County he was a son of the late Lonnie C. Gillespie and Lessie Lee Gore Gillespie Dean.

He was a graduate of William Carey University.

Mr. Gillespie was retired from the United States Military, having served 10 years each with the Army and Marine Corps. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam. After retiring from the military he owned and operated Big T’s Convenience Stores in the Charleston area. After retiring from the business world, he enjoyed time on his cattle ranch in Lebanon, MO.

Surviving is his wife, Alice H. Gillespie of the home; two sons, Preston Gillespie (Donna) of York, and Jim Gillespie of Summerville; a daughter, Tanya Kemmerlin (Richard) of Metter, GA; five sisters, Nancy Sue Davis of Easley, Shelba Jean Bracewell of Charleston, Hilda “Hoot” McCall and Betty Elaine Gillespie both of Easley, and Margaret Karen Cockrell of Newberry; a brother, Lonnie C. Gillespie, Jr. of Enid, OK; 6 grandchildren, Michael Gillespie (Kacie), Hannah Gillespie, Britain Gillespie, Gracelin Gillespie, Madison Gillespie, and Fallin Canaday (Kyle); one great grandson, Connor Gillespie.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Mildred Ann Shirley, and two brothers, William “Bill” Gillespie and Joel Clifford Gillespie.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati OH 45250 or online at www.dav.org

Memorial messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.libertymortuary.com Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.