Obituary of Holbrook Rion

Our father was born in Columbia, S. C., on St. Patrick's Day (March 17) 1923 to the late Taylor B. (Tuck) Rion and Montez Reese Rion. As a child in grammar school, his baby picture was voted the Most Beautiful Baby - everyone was shocked it was Daddy. He was confirmed at St. John's Episcopal Church. In both Football and Track he was an outstanding athlete at Dreher High School. Pearl Harbor happened during his first semester at the University of South Carolina and he volunteered for the Army Air Corp. The Corp sent him to college in Jackson Tennessee where he met our mother, Mary Dove Ripley (the love of his life). They were married in Corpus Christie, Texas. Here he became a part of the Army Infantry as a lieutenant. After World War II he finished his college education in Accounting at the University of South Carolina. He, also, lettered in Track while attending USC. We understand that he still holds the school record for the 220 low hurdles (This event was no longer being run). After graduation he became an agent for the Internal Revenue Service. Uncle Sam called him back to serve during the Korean Conflict. He continued his association with the Army in the Reserves as a part of the 360th Civil Affairs Unit (Strom Thurmond's unit). He completed Command General Staff School as a Bird Colonel and became the Executive Officer of the 360th Reserve Unit. He retired from the Internal Revenue Service in 1979. Our father had a "love affair" with sports cars most of his adult life. Starting in the early 1950's he bought an MG TD. Next came the powder blue Jaguar XK-120. As a member of the Sports Car Club of America, he traveled all over the Southeast to different events. Later in life the speed and perfection of the 1979 Porsche 930 automobile attracted his attention. He joined the Carolina's Region of the Porsche Club of America. He bought other Porsches over the years (one at the time) and brought them back to show-room quality, sold them and upgraded to the next 1979 Porsche 930. He owned seven. This passion brought him much joy in his life. We his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews survive him. Daughter, Montez' Rion English (John); twin sons, Capt. Taylor C. (Tuck) Rion (Kathy) and Holbrook C. (Holly) Rion (Leigh Ann); grandchildren, Beau English (Suzanne), Arland English Blackburn (Richard), Matt English (Katie), Aubrey Rion, Mary Hannah Rion, Holbrook (Happy) Rion & Mary Dove Rion (twins), Savannah Manning, and Madison Cline; great-grandchildren, Greyson English, Brooks English, Isabella Blackburn, Quinn English & Delainey English (twins); niece, Amanda Rion Tyner and nephews, Taylor B. Rion, III, James H. (Jackie) Rion, Jr. and William L. (Billy) Rion; sister-in-law, Barbara Rion (Jimmy); and a goddaughter, Susan Bradford Mullins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Mary Dove Ripley Rion, his brothers Taylor (Tuck) B. Rion, Jr. and James H. (Jimmy) Rion. Our father was a man beyond honesty and integrity and at almost age 91 he has done what his favorite poem "High Flight" says…..he has "touched the face of God." Memorials, rather than flowers, may be made to the charity of one's choice. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 P.M., on Friday, February 28, 2014 at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. Interment with full military honors will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends beginning at 2:00 P.M., the day of the service at the funeral home. Friends and relatives are invited to view this obituary and share condolences or memories with the family at www.thompsonsfuneral.com