William R. Thirlwell

William Richard"Dick" Thirlwell of 1246 McGill Pond Lane, Rock Hill, SC, formerlyof Chapin, SC, died March 26, 2012. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky,July 20, 1937, to the late Rev. William B. Thirlwell and Veda Age Thirlwell. After graduating fromhigh school in Jacksonville, Florida,he attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida. He was president of hisfraternity Delta Sigma Phi. Upon graduating, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenantin the US Army. He graduated from the Airborne, Ranger and Expert InfantryBadge Courses in the Army. He was released from active duty as a FirstLieutenant in 1962 and joined the Florida Army National Guard Special Forces,resigning in 1968 as a Captain. Mr. Thirlwell served asDirector of Alumni at his Alma Mater, Stetson University,from 1964 until he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1968 as aSpecial Agent. He served the Bureau in St. Louis,Missouri; Reading,Pennsylvania; Philadelphia,Pennsylvania; and Columbia, South Carolina.He was a graduate of the Department of Defense Polygraph Institute and was apolygraph examiner for the Bureau before he retired in 1988. He then workedNuclear Security at South Carolina Electric and Gas V. C. Summer NuclearStation in Jenkinsville, South Carolina retiring in 1992. During his service withthe FBI, he was recognized with numerous letters of commendation and incentiveawards. He was especially proud of those from Director J. Edgar Hoover. In1985, he was chosen as Lexington County Law Enforcement Officer of the year andwas recognized for his extensive undercover work.He was an avidoutdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, walking in the woods and gardening. Mr. Thirlwell was a past president of the Chapin Ruratans, an active member ofthe Chapin American Legion Post 193, member of Chapin BaptistChurch, and a member ofthe Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. He is survived by hiswife of 49 years Emmie CrooksThirlwell, daughters Donna Hydrick(Larry) of Mount Pleasant, SC; Patricia Shipman (Craig) of Rock Hill, SC; grandchildrenAndrew and Courtney Shipman, Kimberly Hydrick, his brother Mark (Cathy)Thirlwell of Merritt Island, Florida; brother-in-law Lane Crooks (Cheryl) of Prosperity; sister-in-law Ray Barrack(Tom) of Orangeburg, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at the home in Rock Hill on March 27, 2012, from 4 to 6 pm. Therewill be a memorial service at the family farm at 7993 Broad River Road, Pomaria, SC for friends and relatives onMarch 29, 2012 at 1 pm. Memorials may be sent to the Hydrocephalus Association, 870 Market Street Suite 705, San Francisco, CA 94102,to the American Red Cross or the charity of your choice.

Visitation Details

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 4:00pm - 6:00pm, At the home

Service Information

Thursday, March 29th, 2012 1:00pm, The Family Farm