Robert "Bob" Grant Price, Sr., 88, of Columbia, passed away on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at his home. He was born on March 30, 1936, in Elizabethtown, IL as the son of Robert Lee and Virginia Rose Gullet Price.
Bob graduated from University High School and Southern Illinois University, both in Carbondale, IL. While in high school, he was chosen to participate in the Illinois State Science Fair in Chicago. While attending Southern Illinois University, he served as president of the Southern Eagles Flying Club and participated in the Collegiate Aerobatics Trials where he finished second place overall. He was an Airforce ROTC graduate and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant following graduation. He entered the United States Airforce Undergraduate Pilot School and was assigned to the Air Training Command where he taught other pilots how to fly aircraft. He was later assigned to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) flying the Lockheed Super Constellation (C-121) and Hercules (C-130) as an instructor pilot on worldwide missions. He served in Vietnam as part of the 310 Air Commando Squadron, flying over 450 missions. He later resigned his commission and enrolled in Law School at the University of South Carolina. He graduated with his Doctor of Jurisprudence in January of 1969. Bob He practiced law in Columbia for 42 years with the firms of Kennedy and Price, and later at Price, Bird, and Smith. He was active in the American Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar Association, the Richland County Bar Association, and the Defense Trial Lawyers Association.
In addition to his lifelong love of flying, he enjoyed playing bridge with his friends and spending time with his family and friends at the family summer home in Pawley's Island, SC. He served as President of the Evening Music Club and the Columbia Music Festival Association. He was part of the Dance Club of Columbia and a long time member of the Forest Lake Country Club. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia where he served on the Board of Deacons. He enjoyed friends at a weekly Citadel Coffee Club and was engaged in fellowship as part of the Presbyterian Men's weekly prayer group.
He is survived by his fiancée, Debra Cooper of Columbia; son, Robert Grant Price, Jr.(Sophie) of Jacksonville, FL; daughter, Ann Sloan Price (Christopher) of Black Mountain, NC; beloved cousin, James Michael Gullet (Norma) of Olive Branch, MS; granddaughters, Olivia Price Bowick (Sean) of Columbia, Lily Frances Price (Michael) of Columbia, Nora Ann Price of Black Mountain, Charolotte Rose Price and Chloe Norah Price, both of Jacksonville; and great grandson, Jackson Fisher Stockman of Columbia.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Ann Carol Hall Price; and sister, Rose Price VanArsdel of Bryan, TX.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 29, from 5:00 until 7:00 o'clock, at the family home, 120 Old Mill Circle, Columbia, SC. The graveside service will be held Friday, July 12, at 12:30 o'clock at Rose Hill Cemetery, E. Liberty Street, Marion, SC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Columbia Music Festival Association or the Vietnam Veterans Foundation in Bob's name.