Eugene C Stiff Jr.

Eugene C. Stiff, Jr., of Rock Hill, SC, went to his heavenly reward on Monday, May 22, 2017. Mr. Stiff, age 90, was born in New Brunswick, Canada, on September 19, 1926 to Eugene C. Stiff, Sr. and Mary Brumley Stiff. At the age of seventeen he joined the United States Marine Corps, serving during World War II in the Pacific theater including participation in the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines. Upon his discharge he moved to Vinton, Virginia, where he met Betty Schuermann, who became the love of his life. They were married in September, 1948 and spent the next sixty-eight years together in love. Mr. Stiff graduated from Kentucky Christian College and served the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination as pastor of churches in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois. While in Illinois he received an undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University in Spanish, graduating with a 4.0 average. Vanderbilt University awarded him a full scholarship and the family moved to Nashville, TN. In 1965 he received a Master's degree in Spanish from Vanderbilt. For the remainder of his career he taught Spanish at Winthrop College and Spanish & Latin at Chester High School in Chester, SC. He was a longtime member of SouthPark Christian Church in Charlotte, NC, but in recent years had attended Bethel United Methodist Church in Rock Hill, SC as his health allowed. Mr. Stiff was a scholar and a gentle man who pursued a lifelong love of learning. An avid reader who taught himself to read at age 4, he had a massive collection of books and an encyclopedic knowledge of Civil War history, World War II history, guns, planes, and automobiles. His grandchildren knew that they could ask him anything and he would know the answer; there was nothing he loved more than to share his vast knowledge with those he loved. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Paul Whitley and Russell Stiff, and one sister, Frances Tennent. He is survived by his beloved wife and four daughters: Becky (Glynn) Drawdy of Rock Hill, SC, Betty Jean Franklin of Atlanta, GA, Bonny (Oscar) Garcia of Chester, SC, and Bobbie Tadlock of Rock Hill, SC, as well as one brother, Earl Stiff of Mooresburg, TN. He also is survived by seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly, as well as many sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1232 Curtis Street, Rock Hill. Visitation will be held in the church sanctuary following the service. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org, the general fund of Bethel United Methodist Church, 1232 Curtis Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730, or Hospice and Community Care of Rock Hill at www.hospicecommunitycare.org.

Service Information

Saturday, May 27th, 2017 10:00am, Bethel United Methodist Church