Mr. Espie Flynn Menius Jr.

A memorial service to honor the life of Mr. Espie Flynn Menius, Jr. who died peacefully on Friday March 3, 2017, two days before his 94th birthday, will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville at 11 o’clock on Monday, March 6, 2017. The Rev. Dr. Dan Sansbury will officiate with a reception following the service at the church. Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in his honor to the Nazareth Children’s Home, PO Box 1438, 725 Crescent Road, Rockwell, NC 28138 or the First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville, 213 West Home Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550. Flynn had a big heart for his family and for the town of Hartsville. Over many years as an unmarried father, he adopted four older children and was a foster father to fifteen other children who lived in his home from several months to several years. He was actively involved with the Nazareth Children’s Home in Rockville, N.C., which was an orphanage founded by his great grandfather. He was a tireless volunteer and recognized civic leader for Hartsville, named Rotary’s Citizen of the Year in 1960. He was a volunteer firefighter and named to the S.C. Fire Fighters Hall of Fame in 1995. During his long career with Sonoco in Hartsville as an electrical engineer, he was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, with a strong faith and belief in Christ. During World War II, 1st Lt. Menius, Jr. served as Adjutant of the 3160th Signal Service Battalion, the largest battalion in the European Theater of Operation, attached to General Eisenhower’s Headquarters Command. The 3160th received the distinguished unit award and Lt. Menius received combat medals for participation in the Rhineland and central Europe campaigns. Flynn was born in New Bern, N.C., the son of Espie Flynn Menius and Sudie Lyerly Menius. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from N.C. State and received an MBA from the University of South Carolina. Two of his children, Reuben Menius and James Benfield Menius, and a granddaughter, Amber Menius, pre-deceased him, while two sons, William James Menius and Steve W. Menius, and numerous grandchildren survive him. His brother James L. Menius and his sister Mary Gail Bentz preceded him in death, and his brother, Jack A. Menius of Cary, N.C, survives him. Funeral arrangements are with the Brown Pennington Atkins Funeral Home. Memorial gifts can be sent to the Nazareth Children’s Home or the First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville. The family expresses gratitude for the compassionate care and assistance of the Morningside Assisted Living Facility and Agape’ Hospice.

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Mr. Espie Flynn Menius Jr.

March 5, 1923 - March 3, 2017