Ewell Gilbert Sturgis, Jr.

Ewell Gilbert Sturgis, Jr. 69, of Hopkins, SC, husband of Judy Toler Sturgis, died Thursday, May 18, 2017. His Funeral Service will be held Sunday, May 21, 2017 in the J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road at 3:00 pm. Interment will follow in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens with full military honors. The family will receive friends Saturday, May 20, 2017 in the Mount Pleasant Chapel from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Buddy was born in Rock Hill, SC on September 9, 1947. He was the son of the late Ewell Gilbert Sturgis, Sr. and Louise Clinton Sturgis. He was a 1965 graduate of Rock Hill High. He attended Garner Webb College and the Baptist College at Charleston. Buddy was owner and operator of Mt. Pleasant Seafood Co. Wholesale in Mt Pleasant for fourteen years. After closing the seafood business he was employed at Patriots Point Development Authority. There he began his career in museums. Buddy designed and built the first Vietnam Support Base exhibit at Patriots Point, completing it in 1987. He also contributed to the building and development of Naval Shipyard museum, and the Coast Guard Cutter Ingham WHEC35 and destroyer, the USS Laffey DD724 exhibits. He assisted in the movement and relocation of the Congressional Medal of Honor headquarters from the USS Intrepid in New York and the establishment of the first phase of the Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point.

Buddy began his military career in 1967 with the US Navy. He volunteered and served with Navy's elite River Patrol Force special warfare group, where he earned his "Black Beret" and two Purple Heart medals. When he returned home he joined the South Carolina Army National Guard. He attended the US Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1972. He served in the National Guard until 1977 reaching the rank of Captain and returned to civilian life for ten years. He reenlisted in the Guard in 1987 and embarked on another commissioning process of becoming a Warrant Officer. He retired from the National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) in 2000 with 25 years of honorable service. He joined the South Carolina Defense Force and reached the rank of Colonel before he retired in September 2015.

In 1997 Buddy proposed to the Adjutant General, Major General Stanhope S. Spears to build a museum to capture the history and service of the men and women in the SC National Guard, both Air and Army. General Spears agreed and Buddy began work with BG John Shuler, Deputy Adjutant General, in establishing the South Carolina Military Museum. The first phase was completed and dedicated February 2007. The second Phase was completed in June 2014 and the final phase is under construction. This gave credit to the SC National Guard as being the second oldest, the fourth largest in the National Guard System and the largest land based military museum in South Carolina. Buddy's quote on completion "I haven't accomplished this but We did it together". One week before his passing, Governor McMaster presented him with the Order of the Palmetto on May 11, for his life-long service to South Carolina.

Buddy was married to his best friend, Judith Toler whom he shared a life together for 49 years and eight months. They have one son Ewell Gilbert "Chip" Sturgis, III, and his wife Karena and two grandsons, Chatham and Walker Sturgis all of Charleston, SC.

Memorials may be made in Buddy's memory to the South Carolina Military History Foundation, 1 National Guard Road, Columbia, SC 29201.