Buck Denton

William Beronge “Buck” Denton, Jr., 80, passed away June 17, 2023. A native of Greenville, SC, son of the late William Beronge Denton, Sr. and Grace Smith Denton, Buck was a graduate of Parker High School in 1961 and Furman University in 1967. After graduating college, Buck served in the US Army from 1967 to 1969, which included a tour of Vietnam where his rank was Specialist 5. He received the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service under exceptionally adverse conditions during his time in Vietnam, 1968 to 1969. Mr. Denton began his lifelong career in accounting at Ballenger Construction Company in the early 1970s and worked in the accounting area at several other firms over the years before his retirement in 2016. He and his wife Gail married in 1973 and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 1. Over the years, Buck served as president twice for the Mountain Bridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited, vice president and president of Parker Rotary Club, and chair of the Board of Stewards at Covenant United Methodist. He was an avid fly fisherman and loved fishing the waters in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, as well as North and South Carolina. Buck and Gail loved to travel, counting their explorations in areas of Louisiana, the Florida Keys, and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee among their favorites. They both treasured trips to several National Parks and Forests, including Pisgah National Forest, Yellowstone NP, and Glacier. They traveled outside the US several times, but an extended trip to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2015 was one of the most memorable for them both. Mr. Denton loved hiking and considered the trek to the summit of Mount LeConte one of his favorite adventures. Other pastimes included reading, cooking, and sailing his Catalina 22 on beautiful Lake Keowee, Lake Hartwell, and Lake Murray. Surviving are his wife, Gail Roberts Denton of the home; one daughter Genny Denton Nelson (Neil); four grandchildren, Matthew Nelson, Evangeline Nelson, Michael Nelson, and Stella Nelson; one brother, Charles Denton; three sisters, Sylvia Denton Hughes (Bobby), Katherine Denton Niebur (Glennon), and Bonny Denton Duncan (Gene); brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ben Roberts, Jean Smith, Laura and Wayne Seitz; and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Denton was predeceased by his mother-in-law, Rachel Jamison Lee; sister-in-law, Isabelle Fair; and brother-in-law, Dennis Smith. The family is grateful for the unwavering support of several close friends, including Roger Chandler, David Rich, and Byron Williams, especially in the last six months. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation, NET Research Foundation 31 St. James Avenue, Suite 365 Boston, MA 02116 or https://netrf.org/get-involved/give-now/. A memorial service with military honors will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday, July 21, 2023, at M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery committal shelter. Online condolences may be made to www.thewoodmortuary.com.

Buck Denton

March 3, 1943 - June 17, 2023