WEST COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - Richard Toal Mincey, 78, passed away at Dorn VA Medical Center on Thursday evening, December 30, 2010. He fought a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases but lived a quality life at home through the love and care of his devoted wife of 55 years, Patricia Ann Ferguson Mincey, whom he affectionately called,“TrishAnn.”

Richard was born May 6, 1932, in Winnsboro, SC, to the late Julian Wade and Nellie Burckhalter Mincey.  He dropped out of school in the seventh grade and a few years later joined the National Guard in May 1948.  He transferred to the US Air Force and saw duty in Japan, Guam, the Philippines, and Korea as part of the Fire Crash and Rescue Squad.  He was stationed at numerous bases stateside including Alaska and retired in 1968 after 20 years of military service.

While in the service, he earned his GED and a year of college credit. Using the GI bill, he pursued a college education, graduating from USC-Union with an Associate in Arts degree, and from Limestone College in Gaffney, SC, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education.

Richard was employed as an instructor for the SC Fire Academy during the 1970’s and often traveled the State teaching firefighting technology to both career and volunteer fire departments.  His passion for improved fire and life safety standards captured the attention of the SC State Firefighters' Association in 1980 when that organization hired him as their first full-time lobbyist.  He was instrumental in getting the doors of the State House to swing outward to meet fire codes.  He retired from this position in 1994.

Governor Carroll Campbell awarded Richard the Order of the Palmetto, and the SC General Assembly passed a resolution in his honor. Richard was inducted into the SC Firefighters’ Hall of Fame, and the board room at the SC Firefighters’ Assoc. building is named the “Richard T. Mincey Board Room.” He served as Foreman of South Carolina’s first-ever Grand Jury.

In addition to TrishAnn, Richard is survived by their five children and spouses: Denise (Carl) Epps, Jr., Regina (Jimmy) Jackson, Donna (Richard) Swinbank, Richard (Cara) Mincey, and Laura (Philip) Overcash.  He and TrishAnn also have 17 grandchildren:  Melissa (Epps) Cooley; Amanda (Epps) Tarver; Leila (Saleeby) Potter; Dahlia and Scarlett Saleeby; Mitchell Hydrick; Hannah and Claire Swinbank; Eva, Richard P. and Nehemiah Mincey; Josefina and Greta Overcash; and Jim, Bryan, Miriam and Linda Jackson, and two great-grandchildren: Austin and Aaron Tarver.

Richard is also survived by his sisters Judy (Don) Sprouse and Susan (Richard) Denton of Lockhart, SC, and his brother David Mincey of Georgetown, SC. He was preceded in death by his brothers Harold and Larry Mincey, and his sisters Shirley Dimitri and Mary Grace Self.

Richard’s life was devoted to his wife and family and to using his talents for public good. When time allowed, he and TrishAnn enjoyed spending time at Lake Wateree.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock Monday evening at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - 820 W. Dunbar Road, W. Columbia.

The funeral service will be held at 1 o’clock Tuesday afternoon at Grace Baptist Church (416 Denham Avenue, W. Columbia) with Dr. Bill B. Egerdahl officiating. Interment, with full military honors, will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Columbia.

Active pallbearers will be: Kevin Cooley, Mitch Hydrick, Richard P. Mincey, Allen Tarver, Darell Hydrick, Pete Parham, Bryan Jackson and Jim Jackson.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the South Carolina Fire Service and a family friend, Lawton Cooper.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Richard’s memory to: Fire Service Leadership Institute, Post Office Box 211725, Columbia, S C 29221, to develop leadership skills within the Fire Service.

Richard’s family wishes to express sincere thanks to the wonderful staff on Two West and in the Hospice Unit on Warriors Walk at Dorn VA Medical Center for all the loving care and assistance provided not only to Richard but to TrishAnn and their family and friends as well. They also would like to thank Pastor John White of Congaree Presbyterian Church.  God bless you all.