Verner Gabany

Verner "Vern" Emil Gabany, 84, of Campobello, SC, died Sunday, January 11, 2015, at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills-Landrum. Born May 12, 1930, in Charleston, WV, he was the son of the late Alexander Emil and Madeline Mae Mason Gabany. Vern loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and served Him faithfully. He adored his wife Alta and was the best father in the world to his two sons. He enjoyed sending birthday cards to family members, friends, and business acquaintances. Mr. Gabany was the valedictorian of the Class of 1948 at St. Albans High School. A U. S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, Vern met Alta Crawford while stationed in Oklahoma, and they were married in 1952. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1955 as a Staff Sergeant. Following the war, he worked for Union Carbide in Charleston, WV, was transferred to Cleveland, OH, and then to Simpsonville, SC in 1965. He was also a sales representative for Dexter Corp. until his retirement in 1992. Upon retirement, Vern still enjoyed working as he served as a consultant for Dexter Corp. and worked for American Storage until retiring in 2012 at the age of 82. Mr. Gabany was a member of First Baptist North Spartanburg. He taught Sunday School at Morningside Baptist Church for 30 years. His personal accomplishments include donating 161 pints of blood to the Red Cross and other donation centers. He was a 50 year veteran of the Boy Scouts of America, Scoutmaster of Troop #3, a member of the Order of the Arrow, awarded the Silver Beaver Award in 1988, and earned the Wood Badge Award. In 1976, Vern went to Philmont Scout Ranch and led the Scouts in his hiking group. He received the Gold Coat Award while president of the Blue Ridge Sertoma, served as president of the Breakfast Optimist Club in 1978, past governor of the Optimist Club for the State of South Carolina 1981-1982, and served on the board for the Salvation Army. Survivors include his beloved wife of 62 years, Alta Crawford Gabany; two sons, Phillip Gabany (Kathy) of Warrenton, VA, and their two children, Andrew and Maggie, and Randy Gabany (Marcy) of Campobello, SC, and their three children, Miranda, Mikala, and Patton; and great-grandson, Evan Turner; two brothers, Alex Gabany (Nona) of North Carolina and Bobby Gabany (Marilyn) of Florida; sister, Betty Jo Gabany of Campobello, SC; and seven nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Don Gabany. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 PM Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307, by the Rev. Dr. Michael Hamlet. Private entombment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Heritage Chapel Mausoleum. Memorials may be made to First Baptist North Spartanburg General Fund, 8740 Asheville Hwy, Spartanburg, SC 29316; or The Salvation Army, PO Drawer 2909, Spartanburg, SC 29304 or online at www.salvationarmyusa.org. The family is at the home of Randy Gabany. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Verner "Vern" E. Gabany please visit our Sympathy Store.