Heber Riser

Heber Riser, 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at his residence in Charleston, SC. Known by many as “H.P.”, he was born March 5, 1922 in Newberry, SC the son of the late Clarence Raymond Riser and Susannah Tranquilla Bedenbaugh Riser. After graduating from Newberry High School he moved to Charleston where he met his first wife, Ellen O’Quinn. Ellen passed away in 1964. Heber then married Murad Crooks in 1966, a marriage that lasted until 2009 when Murad passed away. In addition to his parents and wives, he was predeceased by brothers George and Karl Riser as well as sisters Lila Shealy and Dora Gibson. Heber was a veteran of World War II. Despite holding a job with the railroad that exempted him from military service, he volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Pacific for two years until the end of the war. After the war, he returned to Charleston and resumed work with the railroad. He later went into business for himself, ultimately owning and operating first an Amoco and then a Gulf service station in Riverland Terrace on James Island. He also owned and operated Riser Oil Company, a home-heating oil business. Heber was a lifelong member of the James Island Mason Lodge #396 AFM. In his younger years, Heber could always be found under the hood of a car. In addition to fixing them, he enjoyed racing them at the drag strip in Walterboro. He was a lifelong NASCAR fan, being a special fan of Lee and Richard Petty. Upon retirement, Heber and Murad enjoyed traveling in their motor home, visiting every state except Hawaii. They next settled in Burnsville, NC where they lived for 20 years. They returned to South Carolina in 2004, moving to Summerville. He was a member of Summerville Baptist Church. Surviving are three daughters from his first marriage: Joyce Liberstein and her husband Frank of Trade, TN; Linda Groggel and her husband Dwight of Summerville, SC; and Pam Black and her husband Tom of Hilton Head Island, SC. He also is survived by 5 grandchildren: Scott Groggel, Ray Liberstein, Emily (Groggel) Shepherd, Ron Riser, and Dave Liberstein. Survivors also include seven great-grandchildren and another one on the way. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 26, 2012 at 11 o’clock AM at James A. Dyal Funeral Home, 303 South Main Street, Summerville. Burial will follow at Live Oak Memorial Gardens, Charleston. Friends and family may call at the funeral home from 10 o’clock AM until hour of service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Crossnore School, P.O. Box 249, 100 DAR Drive, Crossnore, NC 28616.

Heber Riser

March 5, 1922 - March 22, 2012