LANCASTER, SCJoe Richard McManus, Sr., age 76, went to live in his mansion in the sky on Sunday, March 13, 2016. Mr. McManus was born on February 20, 1940 and was the son of the late Henry Toy McManus, Sr. and Polly Stacks McManus. He proudly served his country in the South Carolina National Guard. He was married for 53 years to his high school sweetheart, Elaine Baker McManus. He worked for forty years at Builders Supply Company and was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church. For thirty years, he was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church, where he was a Deacon and Sunday School teacher and served on many committees.
In school, Joe was co-captain of his varsity football team, the Lancaster Senior High Blue Hurricanes, where his toughness on the field often inspired the sports writer of the Lancaster News, Lester Robinson, to write about him. For many years, he was an avid golfer and fisherman and enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a simple man with no airs about him, and had a quick wit second to none. He was a man of his word and could not do enough for others. He was definitely one of the good guys. There was never a prouder dad or granddaddy, and he couldnt do enough for his family. One of his greatest pleasures was monthly dinners with many schoolmates and an annual week at the beach with approximately 80 former schoolmates from Lancaster Senior High School.
Mr. McManus is survived by his wife, Elaine; his son, Ritch and his wife, Christi and their daughters, Danielle and Bethany of Irmo; his daughter, Angie McManus Shirley and her husband, Bengie and their sons, Davis and Britt of Greenwood; his sister, Doris McManus Hudson; his brothers, Henry Toy Shine McManus, Jr. and his wife, Pat, and James McManus; and his brother-in-law, Jim (Bucy) Baker and his wife, Linda.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Sam McManus and his parents-in-law, Kittie and J.B. Baker, whom he thought of as his second parents.
The family of Mr. McManus would like to thank the ICU and CCU staff at Springs Memorial Hospital who administered to him during his final three weeks here on earth. They were truly one of the most caring and competent teams of medical professionals with whom we have dealt, and they helped see us through some of the darkest days of our lives for which we will be forever grateful.
The Celebration of Life Service for Mr. McManus will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at St. Luke United Methodist Church by Rev. Bill McCown and Mr. Rudy Carter. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 8:00 pm Tuesday evening, March 15, 2016 at Burgess Funeral Home, 1800 Charlotte Highway, Lancaster and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church Building Fund, 128 Providence Road, Lancaster, SC 29720 or to Beyond Abuse, PO Box 693, Greenwood, SC 29648 or to the charity of your choice. Following the service, the family will greet friends in the Welcome Center of the church.