Paul LeRoy Sowell, 84, of Hartsville, died Nov. 10, 2012.
SowellBorn in McBee, he was a bivocational pastor and worked at several jobs in Darlington and Chesterfield counties while serving churches. He was pastor of High Hill Baptist Church, Darlington; Faith Baptist Church, Darlington; Beauford Baptist Church, McBee; and Fourth Street Baptist Church, Hartsville.
He graduated from Carolina College of Commerce, Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute and Gardner-Webb College.
He was a member of the John Dusenberry Marine Corps League, where he was past chaplain. He received the Order of the Purple Heart three times for wounds sustained while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He guarded president Truman at the “Little White House” in Key West, Fla., and was an underwater demolitions expert.
Survivors include his wife, Iva Lovelace Sowell, a daughter and a grandson.