Obituary for John William "Bill" Bumpus
John William “Bill” Bumpus, went to his eternal home on Monday, November 21, 2022, at his home in Belton, South Carolina.
He was born in Dixon, Kentucky on July 2, 1930, to Rufus Chester Bumpus and Eunie Lorene Clark Bumpus.
John William Bumpus was born on a rural farm during the first full year of the Great Depression. Suffering an early in life accident that left him without his right eye, he ignored what many consider a disadvantage for basketball to pursue his favorite sport. He spent hours in the gym or anywhere with a basketball hoop perfecting his point-guard skills. John Billy, as he was known at Webster County High School, played varsity basketball from his 8th grade year through his senior year and earned all-county, all-regional, and all-tournament recognition for his disciplined play.
Bill Bumpus applied this same discipline, a disciplined learned from his entrepreneurial father to the retail business activities, he spent a lifetime pursuing. Managing shoe stores for over twenty years in Charlotte, Michigan, Henderson and Owensboro, Kentucky, and Charlotte, North Carolina, eventually morphed into founding his own business, Bumpus Tires, in Pineville, North Carolina. He liked to joke he spent the first twenty years of his business shoeing people and the last twenty plus years shoeing people’s cars.
Bill was lucky in love. He married Lois Marie Wiggins when he was twenty-two. They raised two sons, Zack and Greg. After retirement, Bill lost his beloved Lois to cancer in 2008. After a number of years, Bill was fortunate enough to meet and marry Shirley Anne Allred Ellison, who brought two sons of her own, Joel and Neil. Bill was a loving grandfather and great grandfather. He loved and adored all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Bill will be remembered as a tireless worker in God’s kingdom. He was ordained as a Deacon at Commonwealth Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. He also served as a Deacon for Carmel Baptist Church in Matthews, NC. Beyond his Deacon’s ministry to the congregation, Bill served in many capacities: several times as treasurer or as director of finance; he and his first wife, Lois Marie Wiggins Bumpus, taught classes for newly married Christian couples; and he taught Sunday School for special needs children and young adults. After his first wife’s death, Bill created the Lois Bumpus Missions Endowment and the Lois Bumpus Missions Scholarship designed to help students wishing to pursue a commitment to Christian missions.
At Second Baptist Church, Bill faithfully attended all worship services and Sam Campbell’s Sunday School Class, when his health allowed. Bill was involved as an off-sight volunteer for Good News Club, an after-school program where the gospel is taught to children each week. His role was helping to prepare the program and most important roll praying every Tuesday while this program was presented. He always rejoiced to learn that a child had trusted Christ as Savior.
Over the last year, Bill often spoke of feeling a little stronger so we could all go shoot a few baskets together.
Bill leaves behind his wife, Shirley Allred Bumpus, his sons, Zachary Allen Bumpus (Laura) of Auburn, Al, Gregory Dale Bumpus (Cary) of Charlotte, NC, Shirley’s sons, Robert Joel Ellison, (Christy) of Anderson, SC, and Fred Neil Ellison (Jackie) of Atlanta, Ga.
Grandchildren, Kristina Harmer Butcher (Charles) of Hampstead, NC, John Elliott Bumpus of Johns Island, SC, Jessica Bumpus Walker (James) of Charlotte, N C, Christina Lee Bumpus (finance’ Michael Riva) of New York City, N. Y, Geoffrey Dustin Bumpus FCC (SW/AW), USN of Bremerton, WA., Erin Ellison McClure (Caleb) of Travelers Rest, SC, and Olivia Greenlee Ellison, of Atlanta, Ga.
Great Grandchildren, Zach Butcher, Gavin Hubbard, Ashlyn Hubbard, Malakye Walker, Charles Butcher III, Amelia Butcher, Makayla Walker, Isaac Campbell, and Colton McClure.
As well as his sister, Mildred Jean Sigler, Frankfort, Ky, his brother, Larry Ray Bumpus (Sandra) Rockport, Indiana. Sisters-in-law, Ruth Ann Bumpus, Henderson, Ky, Alice Carol Wiggins, Lexington, Ky, Joyce Denton, Henderson Ky, Sara Duncan, Belton SC, Carolyn Bridwell, Anderson SC, and Evelyn Allred, Greenwood SC, brother-in-law, Jerry L. Allred, Sr., Walhalla SC.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Wiggins Bumpus, his parents, brothers, James Carroll Bumpus, and Denny Lee Bumpus, sisters, Peggy Ann Shoulders, and Betty June Chandler.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, at 10:00 am until funeral service at 11:30 am. at Second Baptist Church 5901 Belton Anderson Highway, Belton, SC 29627
Interment will be Thursday, December 1, 2022, at 1:00 pm in the Monument Garden at Forest Lawn East Cemetery, Matthews NC.
Donations may be made to The Lois Bumpus Mission Scholarship c/o Carmel Baptist Church, 1145 Pineville-Matthews Road, Matthews, NC 28105 or to the charity of your choice.
Special appreciation to care givers, Cathy Lollis, Cheryl Givens, Sandy Smith, Tonya Smith, Rebecca Miller, and Prisma Home Health.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER, ANDERSON, S.C.
He was born in Dixon, Kentucky on July 2, 1930, to Rufus Chester Bumpus and Eunie Lorene Clark Bumpus.
John William Bumpus was born on a rural farm during the first full year of the Great Depression. Suffering an early in life accident that left him without his right eye, he ignored what many consider a disadvantage for basketball to pursue his favorite sport. He spent hours in the gym or anywhere with a basketball hoop perfecting his point-guard skills. John Billy, as he was known at Webster County High School, played varsity basketball from his 8th grade year through his senior year and earned all-county, all-regional, and all-tournament recognition for his disciplined play.
Bill Bumpus applied this same discipline, a disciplined learned from his entrepreneurial father to the retail business activities, he spent a lifetime pursuing. Managing shoe stores for over twenty years in Charlotte, Michigan, Henderson and Owensboro, Kentucky, and Charlotte, North Carolina, eventually morphed into founding his own business, Bumpus Tires, in Pineville, North Carolina. He liked to joke he spent the first twenty years of his business shoeing people and the last twenty plus years shoeing people’s cars.
Bill was lucky in love. He married Lois Marie Wiggins when he was twenty-two. They raised two sons, Zack and Greg. After retirement, Bill lost his beloved Lois to cancer in 2008. After a number of years, Bill was fortunate enough to meet and marry Shirley Anne Allred Ellison, who brought two sons of her own, Joel and Neil. Bill was a loving grandfather and great grandfather. He loved and adored all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Bill will be remembered as a tireless worker in God’s kingdom. He was ordained as a Deacon at Commonwealth Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. He also served as a Deacon for Carmel Baptist Church in Matthews, NC. Beyond his Deacon’s ministry to the congregation, Bill served in many capacities: several times as treasurer or as director of finance; he and his first wife, Lois Marie Wiggins Bumpus, taught classes for newly married Christian couples; and he taught Sunday School for special needs children and young adults. After his first wife’s death, Bill created the Lois Bumpus Missions Endowment and the Lois Bumpus Missions Scholarship designed to help students wishing to pursue a commitment to Christian missions.
At Second Baptist Church, Bill faithfully attended all worship services and Sam Campbell’s Sunday School Class, when his health allowed. Bill was involved as an off-sight volunteer for Good News Club, an after-school program where the gospel is taught to children each week. His role was helping to prepare the program and most important roll praying every Tuesday while this program was presented. He always rejoiced to learn that a child had trusted Christ as Savior.
Over the last year, Bill often spoke of feeling a little stronger so we could all go shoot a few baskets together.
Bill leaves behind his wife, Shirley Allred Bumpus, his sons, Zachary Allen Bumpus (Laura) of Auburn, Al, Gregory Dale Bumpus (Cary) of Charlotte, NC, Shirley’s sons, Robert Joel Ellison, (Christy) of Anderson, SC, and Fred Neil Ellison (Jackie) of Atlanta, Ga.
Grandchildren, Kristina Harmer Butcher (Charles) of Hampstead, NC, John Elliott Bumpus of Johns Island, SC, Jessica Bumpus Walker (James) of Charlotte, N C, Christina Lee Bumpus (finance’ Michael Riva) of New York City, N. Y, Geoffrey Dustin Bumpus FCC (SW/AW), USN of Bremerton, WA., Erin Ellison McClure (Caleb) of Travelers Rest, SC, and Olivia Greenlee Ellison, of Atlanta, Ga.
Great Grandchildren, Zach Butcher, Gavin Hubbard, Ashlyn Hubbard, Malakye Walker, Charles Butcher III, Amelia Butcher, Makayla Walker, Isaac Campbell, and Colton McClure.
As well as his sister, Mildred Jean Sigler, Frankfort, Ky, his brother, Larry Ray Bumpus (Sandra) Rockport, Indiana. Sisters-in-law, Ruth Ann Bumpus, Henderson, Ky, Alice Carol Wiggins, Lexington, Ky, Joyce Denton, Henderson Ky, Sara Duncan, Belton SC, Carolyn Bridwell, Anderson SC, and Evelyn Allred, Greenwood SC, brother-in-law, Jerry L. Allred, Sr., Walhalla SC.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Wiggins Bumpus, his parents, brothers, James Carroll Bumpus, and Denny Lee Bumpus, sisters, Peggy Ann Shoulders, and Betty June Chandler.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, at 10:00 am until funeral service at 11:30 am. at Second Baptist Church 5901 Belton Anderson Highway, Belton, SC 29627
Interment will be Thursday, December 1, 2022, at 1:00 pm in the Monument Garden at Forest Lawn East Cemetery, Matthews NC.
Donations may be made to The Lois Bumpus Mission Scholarship c/o Carmel Baptist Church, 1145 Pineville-Matthews Road, Matthews, NC 28105 or to the charity of your choice.
Special appreciation to care givers, Cathy Lollis, Cheryl Givens, Sandy Smith, Tonya Smith, Rebecca Miller, and Prisma Home Health.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER, ANDERSON, S.C.