John Porter Gaston

John Porter Gaston, Jr., 82, of Richburg died on Monday, January 14, 2013 at White Oak Manor in Lancaster, SC.The funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, January 18, 2013 at Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church with Reverend Don Simpson officiating.The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall.Mr. Gaston chose to donate his body to scientific study through the Medical University of South Carolina. There will be no interment. He was born on June 22, 1930 and was preceded to Heaven by his parents J. Porter and Mary Gaston and his wife Nancy Neely Gaston and his sister Mary Saye Sharp. Mr. Gaston was a graduate of Lewisville High School and attended Clemson College.He was a member of Greenville ARP Church.As a dairyman, he was a member of the SC Guernsey Association.He served his community as a member of the Lewisville School Board and his state as a member of the SC House of Representatives.Upon retirement,John was a loved volunteer at Bonclarken Conference Center. Mr. Gaston is survived by his wife Jean Osteen Gaston of Greenville, SC; 4 sons and their wives- John Porter and Jan Gaston of York, Neely and Lyn Gaston of Chester, Joseph and Karen Gaston of Greer, and Strait and Jane Gaston of Lancaster; 9 grandchildren- Jodie and his wife Tina, Susan, Craig, John Neely, Megan, Erin, Caleb and his wife Rebekah, Will and Elizabeth; and 3 great-grandchildren- Devonte’, Hollis and Ayden; three brothers, Joe Gaston and his wife Libby, Newt Gaston and his wife Peace and James Gaston and wife Catherine; one sister, Susan Brown and her husband Bobby and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to offer heart-felt thanks to Beth Gaston who graciously opened her home and provided care to her Uncle John during the last year of his life. Memorials may be made to Hospice & Community Care, PO Box 993, Rock Hill, SC 29731 or Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church, 3087 Fishing Creek Church Road, Chester, SC 29706. Online condolences for the family can be made at www.barronfuneralhome.com