John Drayton Oswald Sr.

John Drayton Oswald Sr., 90, of Saluda, formerly of Cayce, passed away on Monday, July 1, 2024. He was born in Saluda County on September 30, 1933, to the late Cecil Theron and Agnes Roof Oswald. John was the middle child of a large family that included eleven children. He grew up working on the family farm. John became a well-respected diesel mechanic at Fairfield Tractor Co. in Columbia, SC. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sara Lee Price Oswald, to whom he was married for 57 years. In his last days, he was well-cared for and is survived by his current wife, Shirley Sease Price Oswald.

After graduation from Batesburg-Leesville High School, he served one tour of duty in the United States Army. He and Sara married in 1958 and moved to Cayce, SC, in 1963, where they lived until her death in 2015. He resided in Saluda, SC for the better part of the last eight years of his life. He has been a faithful member of Transfiguration Lutheran Church, in Cayce, SC, for 59 years.

John's family was very important to him, and he is survived by four children: Lynn Tinman (Mike), Theron Oswald (Darlene), Lillian Hensley, and John Oswald, Jr. (Heather); 12 grandchildren, Rachael (Jody), Kristin (Mike), Jonathan, Justin, Drayton (Stella), Benjamin, Brett, Grayson, Saundra, Alyssa, Addilyn and Cason; 13 great-grandchildren, Morgan, Michaela (Shawn), Gavin, Tyler, Riley, Aidan, Logan, Tyson, Skye, Hudson, Wolfie, Sutton, and London; and two great-great grandchildren, Quinn and Silas. He is also survived by two sisters, Delane Oswald Reynolds, and Sylvia Oswald Allison, as well as multiple nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, as well as great-great nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and first wife, Sara, he was preceded in death by eight of his ten siblings.

When John married Shirley, he gained a bonus daughter, Sheryl Maffett, who came along with Joel, her husband; two bonus grandchildren, Jessi (Mark) and Jarrett (Jillyn); and one bonus great-grandchild, Rory.

In his last days, he was comforted by his faithful companion “Lady,” a Jack Russell terrier who will miss him greatly.

The funeral service for Mr. Oswald will be held at 2 o'clock on Monday, July 8th, at Transfiguration Lutheran Church, 1301 Twelfth Street Cayce, SC, with Pastor Alex Twedt officiating. Burial will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Milton Shealy Funeral Home is assisting the family.