Obituary of Ralph W. "Shot" McLendon, III

Ralph W. “Shot” McLendon III, 80, husband of Debra Hovatter McLendon, died Sunday, May 29, 2022 at his home. Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Ralph W. McLendon, Jr. and Isabel Lee Ham McLendon. Mr. McLendon grew up in Bishopville and graduated from Bishopville High School. He was a 1966 graduate of the University of South Carolina and was a member of Signa Nu Fraternity. He moved to Sumter in 1967. He was the former owner of Town & Country Homes during which time he was appointed by Governor Carroll Campbell to the SC State Licensing Board where he served two consecutive terms. He was the current owner of Wally’s Hardware of Sumter which was voted Best in Sumter for five consecutive years. He was also involved in numerous commercial real estate ventures in Sumter. Surviving are his wife of Sumter; a son, Ralph W. “Wally” McLendon, IV of Asheville, NC; a sister, Sherian McLendon of Bishopville; a grandson, Thomas Davis McLendon of Wilmington, NC; a granddaughter Sara Lydon "Lila” McLendon of Asheville, NC; special daughter-in-law, Carol Ann Lydon; two stepsons, Donald L. Bowen of OH and Daniel B. Bowen of Sumter. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sara Davis McLendon; a brother, Michael Ryan McLendon. Memorial Services will be held at 3 P.M. Saturday in the Chapel of the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with Rev. Chris Parnell officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 P.M. to 3 P.M. Saturday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Bishopville Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 66, Bishopville, SC 29010 or to a charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be made at www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.