Gene Howard Kizer

Gene Howard Kizer, 95, of Charleston, South Carolina, husband of Elaine S. Bonner, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, December 16, 2023. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 pm. Gene's funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at Bethany United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Live Oak Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

Gene was born August 15, 1928 in St. George, South Carolina, son of the late Lomen Arthur Kizer and Jessie Viola Wimberly Kizer. He passed away on the exact day his wife of 58 years, Carol Augustus Leegette Kizer, passed away 17 years earlier.

Gene retired as a manger in the auto repair department of Sears Roebuck at Northwoods Mall but his first love was always the United States military, specifically the South Carolina Army National Guard. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 28 years. He was also a long-time member of the Washington Light Infantry and Sumter Guards.

Gene loved life and had a zest for it. He played golf at the Municipal Golf Course, "Muni," every week, sometimes two or three times a week until recently. Gene got his picture in the Post and Courier teeing off at age 93. He was on the board of the Golf Course Commission with his wife Elaine and in fact had met her at a social of the golf group called the Rascals who play at Muni. Gene had four holes-in-one over his career.

One of his many grandchildren, Trey Kizer, who is currently deployed with the South Carolina Air National Guard in Saudi Arabia, wrote this tribute, which says it all:

"This morning one of my worst deployment fears came true. I lost one of my heroes back home. I woke up to the news my grandfather suffered a massive heart attack and passed away Saturday evening. While I couldn’t be there it was comforting to hear he passed with family by his side. He was an honorable, decent, classy man. A man of high integrity, always squared away and on time. A Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, he set an excellent example for all of us until the very end. Still extremely active and an avid golfer in his nineties, I pray I can follow in his footsteps. His physical body will no longer be with us but he will live on in the blood and memory of his 4 kids, 10 grandkids and 14 great-grands. He had a good, long, admirable life and will be dearly missed. Granddad, I love you more than I can express in words. The pain is sharp for now but I know I will see you again one day. Until then I will do my best to make you proud. I love you."

In addition to his wife Elaine, Gene is survived by his children: Gene Howard Kizer, Jr. (Anna Lanetta Lanier) of Charleston, Robert Bruce Kizer (Pam) of Charleston, Richard Glenn Kizer of Clearwater, FL, and Carol Ann Kizer Rogers (Clay) of Ravenel, SC; his step-children: David Bonner of Greensboro, NC (Cheri), Catherine Bonner Johnson of Charleston (Bobby), and Elizabeth Bonner Coldwell of San Diego, CA (John); grandchildren: Gene H. Kizer III "Trey" (Heather), Travis Jesse Brooke Kizer (soon Ciara), Kristen Kizer Charpentier (Aubrey), Kathryn Kizer Anderson "Katie" (Andy), Sarah Kizer Grubb (Kevin), Taylor A. Kizer Chen (Dennis), Matthew G. Kizer (Kaitlyn), Clay Rogers, Jr. (Molly), Dean Rogers, Anna Rogers Murphy (Ben); and great-grandchildren: Logan Lee Kizer, Breelynn Rose Kizer, Emily Charpentier, Luke Charpentier, Wesley Charpentier, Logan Grace Anderson, Daniel Anderson, Hudson Grubb, Kennedy Grubb, Harper Grubb, Parker Murphy, Lilly Murphy, Sam Chen, and Kelsi Kizer.

In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol Augustus Leegette Kizer.

Memorial donations may be made in Gene's memory to the Washington Light Infantry. Go to their website contact form and tell them you'd like to make a donation in Gene H. Kizer's name.