Henry M. "Bucky" Herlong, Jr.

The memorial service for Henry M. “Bucky” Herlong Jr., 69, will be held this Friday, December 22, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Temples-Halloran Funeral Home with Deacon Tom Souza officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment will be held in Bush River Memorial Gardens at a later date. Bucky passed to his eternal home to the joys of Heaven and to God’s perfect love. His last years of battling cancer drew him closer to the essence of his earthly home and the binding love of family and friends. Bucky was born July 21, 1954 in the state of Alaska to Henry M. Herlong, Sr. and Frances Murray Herlong, both deceased. Bucky’s parents both served in the U.S. military. Growing up on military posts across America nurtured Bucky’s love of travel and history. In later years he explored Ireland from coast to coast. Spending time with his beloved grandchildren on the beach or at a ball field were his most precious hours. Bucky was a loving father, grandfather and devoted friend. He was known for his gentle ways, kindness and sense of humor. Bucky’s career began in the textile mills in upstate S.C. When he relocated to Columbia, he worked several years as a sales representative for Bearing Distributors and Southern Scale. He spent 14 years in shipping and receiving at Blue Cross Blue Shield and retired after 6 years at Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission. He was a long-time member of Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church. Mr. Herlong is survived by his daughter, Amanda H. Pyle (Jeremy); son, Travis R. Herlong (Jennie); and his sisters, Pamela Herlong Price (Michael Smith) and Tiny Phillips. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Becca, Walker, and Blythe Pyle; Nadia Steffen; and Ivy Herlong; his former wife and mother of his children, Carol H. Herlong; his nephews and their families, as well as many “adopted” grandchildren that also loved him as Granddaddy. The family would like to thank the many people who loved Bucky so well over his last years, specifically the Comer family, The Hunt, Keese and LaCoe families, Glenn Butler, David and Sherry Pyle, as well as Dr. Chaudhry Mushtaq and his staff at SCOA, Dr. Sean Fuller and his staff at S.C. Internal Medicine, the staff of The Heritage at Lowman, and the staff of Lutheran Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to the SC Oncology Associates Cares Foundation (https://www.scoacares.org/ ). Psalm 23: 4 “Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou are with me…”