Marion Knox, a Founder of Terminix Service, Inc., Passes Away

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Marion Alexander Knox, 90, passed away Friday evening, July 31, 2009, in Palmetto Baptist Hospital. He was born August 31, 1918, in Columbia, the son of the late Thomas Pressley Knox Sr. and Juddie Chaplin Knox. Formerly of Quail Lane, he was currently residing at Still Hopes Episcopal Home.
 
Mr. Knox received a BS degree in Commerce from the University of South Carolina where he was a dean’s list student, played intramural sports and remained a loyal and avid Gamecock fan throughout the years. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity where he was president his senior year.
 
Upon graduation from USC in 1939, he went to work for Firestone Corporation until the outbreak of World War II. With the start of the war he received a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He served as disbursing and supply officer on the USS Tyrell (AKA) from its commissioning to the end of the war. He was aboard the Tyrell from her launching in Baltimore and throughout its voyages through the Panama Canal and several times across the Pacific. The Tyrell was involved in a number of island invasions including Okinawa, where it was hit by a kamikaze plane and received minor damage. The Tyrell was the first combat ship to enter Nagasaki at the end of the war, landing Marines to clear the docks. After the war he continued in the Navy reserves retiring as a LCRD after 26 years of service.
 
In 1947 Marion, his father, his brother, Thomas, and his sister, Juddie Fortson, purchased a small pest control franchise, Terminix Service, Inc. He, and later his brother Thomas, grew the small business to be one of the largest privately held pest control companies in the nation. It currently consists of over 1,100 employees, operating throughout South Carolina, western North Carolina and counties around Augusta, Ga. He served Terminix for 62 years and was Vice Chairman of the Board at the time of his death. He was a founding member of the S.C. Pest Control Association and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1989.
 
He was a faithful and active member of Shandon United Methodist Church from 1928 until his death. He was a member of the Wesley Fellowship Sunday School Class and served on many boards and committees of the church.
 
A charter member of the Cayce-West Columbia Rotary Club, Marion achieved over 45 years of perfect attendance. He was a multiple recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award and received the Family of Rotary Award in 2004.
 
He gave generously to his church and other charitable organizations including scholarships to the University of South Carolina, Columbia College, and Midlands Technical College. He was a recipient of the Columbia College Medallion and member of the USC President’s Council.
 
He is survived by his daughter, Barbara K. Cobb; son, Marion A. “Lex” Knox Jr. and his wife, Cathy Coleman Knox; grandchildren, Alex, Ashley and Trevor Knox, Roger and Rion Cobb, Rami and Kevin McCutchen; great-grandchildren, Knox, Allison and Rachel McCutchen. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of almost 60 years, Rachel Spivey Knox, brother, Thomas P. Knox, Jr. and sister, Juddie K. Fortson.
 
The family wishes to express appreciation to the caregivers of Still Hopes Episcopal Home and the health care providers on the 8th floor of Palmetto Baptist Hospital.
 
The family will receive visitors Monday, August 3, 2009, from 5 until 7 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 4, at Shandon United Methodist Church with burial to follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be Roger Cobb, Rion Cobb, Alex Knox, Trevor Knox, Kevin McCutchen and Thomas Fortson. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the corporate office of Terminix Service, Inc., the Wesley Fellowship Sunday School Class and Thursday Night Bible Study Group.
 
The family suggests those who wish may send memorials to Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205, the Rachel Spivey Knox Endowed Scholarship Fund Columbia College, 1301 Columbia College Drive, Columbia, SC 29203 or the Marion A. Knox Scholarship at the University of South Carolina, Suite 604, 901 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208.