BJ Skelton Sr.

Known to most as BJ and as GeeBay to his children, grand and great children, BJ left this world peacefully at the age of 91, surrounded by his loving family in his home.

BJ was born on February 11, 1935, to the late BC and Hattie Skelton. He and his 4 siblings grew up in Clemson SC, in a house with a pull chain light bulb and a pot belly wood stove where he developed a strong work ethic and a deep love for family.

After graduating from Calhoun-Clemson High School, he attended Clemson University, where he received his B.S. in 1957 and Masters in 1960 in the field of Horticulture. In 1966, he received his PhD in Plant Physiology at Virginia Polytechnical Institute and returned to Clemson University to teach in the horticulture Department from 1966 through 1981.

In 1981, BJ stepped away from the classroom to hold the position of Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions and Registration at Clemson University. He was selected as the faculty representative to the Atlantic Coast Conference from 1982 – 1983, going on to serve positions in the NCAA for several years.

Upon his retirement from Clemson in 1993, he moved to Arlington, Texas, where he served as Athletic Director until 1995.

BJ’s years of public service included serving on numerous committees and boards, even well into his retirement. Some of the many positions he held were Director of Helping Hands, Board of Trustees of Pickens County Schools, President of South Carolina School Boards Association and several appointments to educational committees on the state level.

Throughout his life, BJ actively served in the Methodist church, even filling in at the pulpit from time to time.

Some of his recent joys were serving on the Board of Pickens County Meals on Wheels and drinking coffee in the morning with the Grumpy Ole Men of Six Mile, where they fixed most of the world’s problems!

Through BJ’s career and his service in the community, he shaped and touched the lives of many people including thousands of students, faculty, friends from all over, and mostly, his family. He befriended all with his quick wit, a good (or bad) joke, and his contagious laugh.

BJ’s hobbies included gardening, cooking meals for his family, and cheering on the Clemson Tigers.

He was a loving husband to his wife, Lynn Cureton Skelton. He is also survived and loved by his brother, Tom Skelton, his sister, Betty Crick, his 4 children, Bobby (Joy) Skelton, Bill (Mary) Skelton, Charlie (Kim) Skelton, and Ann (Bobby) Douglas, his 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

BJ also left a lasting impact on his stepchildren, Ryan (Kenzie) Newton, Kimberly Newton, and Nick (Theresa) Newton, and his 6 step-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, BJ was predeceased by his brothers, Billy Ray (BR) Skelton and Donald Skelton.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Bobby Joe Skelton will be held on Monday, October 19th at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, located at 108 Cross Creek Rd., Central, SC 29630. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until 10:45 am at the funeral home prior to the service.

Friends and family are invited to attend and pay their respects.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Pickens County Meals on Wheels at www.pcmow.org/donate or PruittHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, 1510 N. Fant St., Anderson, SC 29621.

Your memory will live on in our hearts.

By God’s Promise in Christ, Rest in peace.

Please visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home & Crematory, Central-Clemson Commons.