Joseph Walter Bouknight, 78, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Raymond A. Bouknight (Mabel Carter), husband of Ella Calvert Bouknight and the late Donnell Miller Bouknight, died Tuesday, November 20, 2012. Mr. Bouknight was born in Columbia on February 13, 1934. He attended Columbia High School and Erskine College and served in the US Navy on the USS Forrestal during the Korean Conflict. Joe was president and owner of Forest Lake Travel and was in the travel business for over 35 years. He served on many boards, including Travel Agents of the Carolinas, Save on Travel, American Society of Travel Agents, and served as president of the SC Chapter of the American Society of Travel Agents. Joe was active in his community as well as in the travel industry, serving as a board member of the YMCA for over 20 years, a member of the Columbia Rotary Club, the Executives' Association of Greater Columbia, and the Committee of 100 through the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Joe was also a member of The Palmetto Club, Forest Lake Club, The Dance Club, The Columbia Sailing Club, and The First Presbyterian Church, where he had served as deacon. Joe enjoyed traveling, golfing and spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Ella Calvert Bouknight; his children and their spouses, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Bauer (Margaret) of Columbia, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Miller, II (Daisy) of Columbia, and Ms. Laurie Bouknight Carter of Charlotte; grandchildren, Robert E. Bouknight. Joseph C. Bouknight, Andrew R. Bouknight, Ryan A. Carter, William A. Bauer, Johnston C. Bauer, J. Edwin Miller, III, and Margaret D. Miller; great grandson, Robert E. Bouknight, Jr.; sisters, Mrs. Robert B. Johnson (Becky) and Mrs. Brooks Roberts (Mary). In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 29 years, Donnell Miller Bouknight; son, Mr. Joseph Walter Bouknight, Jr.; siblings, Ms. Dorothy Navarro and Mr. Raymond A. Bouknight, Jr.

The funeral service for Mr. Bouknight will be held 3 o'clock, Friday, November 23rd, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter Street. Burial will follow at The First Presbyterian Churchyard after which the family will receive friends at the home of Margaret and Bill Bauer, 4707 Carter Hill Drive. Shives Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to the Autism Academy of South Carolina, PO Box 7514, Columbia, SC 29202 or to the YMCA, 1420 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29201.