Obituary of Cmdr. Eason Sineath

Cmdr. George Eason Sineath West Columbia -George Sineath has finally passed all qualifications for taking the helm of his own ship to begin his exploration of God's unchartered Ocean of Eternal Life. Funeral services for George, 83, of West Columbia, will be held at 11:00am Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Trinity United Methodist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Phil Lavender and Rev. David Day. Burial will follow at Woodridge Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 3-5pm on Friday at Thompson's Funeral Home on Augusta Road in Lexington. Memorials may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Building Fund, 2001 Mohawk Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169. Born of "Moody" and June Sineath, he was cared for during his young life by his grandmother, Laura Rushing. Cmdr. Sineath passed away on Sunday, July 10, 2011. He was raised a happy, fun loving child on Folly Beach, SC during the 1930's and 40's where he is survived there by his closest extended family "sister", Sallie Bendt and her husband David. His years living and visiting on Folly Beach, near the place where the Civil War began, sparked in him an interest in World History spanning centuries of time that led him to be renowned for his depth of knowledge and insightful understanding of how the United States were formed and their place in the world today. George was a brilliant man and was a true American hero having served 24 years in the United States Navy. Through his hard work, talent, tenacity and charisma he advanced through the ranks from his enlistment as a young seaman, was nominated for and earned a commission and ultimately retired a much decorated Commander who qualified as a line officer and was to be elevated to "skipper" of his own naval destroyer. However, his love and devotion to his family ultimately was the deciding factor that led him to retire from naval service and move with his wife, Claudia, and daughter, Diane, back to West Columbia to focus his time and care on their well-being. This began his second career as a geometry teacher at Brookland-Cayce High School where, over the next 18 years, he became renowned with students and faculty alike as a very competent and challenging school teacher. His expectations for excellence were sometimes intimidating and his flair for the 'zany' legendary. And, to those students who actually knew the shortest distance between two points, he always bestowed on the "real and true" recipe for Grits as handed down to him by Earl C. Festoon. A role model and inspiration to all, many of his students continued on with his standards in their lives to become very prominent and influential people in the community in their own right. In every conversation had with George he never forgot the students that enriched his life with so much humor and pride. With his wife Claudia's priceless support, the resolution of his responsibility, depth of his compassion, clarity of his purpose, gentleness of his patience and breadth of his connection to his community has left this wonderful man standing heads and shoulders above his piers as a man of enduring accomplishment and genuine humility. Predeceased to George is his precious daughter, Diane, who passed away November 17, 2010. Surviving in addition to his beloved wife, Claudia Fulmer Sineath, of West Columbia; nephew and niece Micheal and Pamela Fulmer of West Columbia; cousins Ann Baugh and Judi Powell of Lexington; Earnestine Commander of Columbia; dear friends Spencer and Angela Whetstone and Beverly Jackson, all of Columbia; life long friend and Navy shipmate, Ray Ward of Alexandria, VA; all of the innumerable other shipmates in the Naval Forces that he shared his life with all over the world while sacrificing his personal life to protect the American freedoms we all hold so dear; and all his dear neighbors over the years who he was "family" to and became the stand-in grandfather to all their children. "The Killer", "Bear" and Mei Mei have already had the rare pleasure to meet their guardian angel here on Earth. Special recognition goes to his life long friend, Dot Nichols, of Greenville, SC and her husband, Nick, who just recently passed away in April 2010, along with their daughters Lisa, Susan and Andi, all of Greenville, SC. His last conscious moment of true enjoyment was listening to his little radio as the USC Gamecock baseball team won their second championship in a row. He had just enough strength to raise a thumb in triumph and then whispered, "That's all I need to know". George E. Sineath was recognized by all he came into contact with, from complete strangers on the street to having resolutions proclaimed by the South Carolina State Legislature on his behalf, as one of the most connected, endearing, and unassuming souls that Columbia has ever known. Family and friends may sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com