Beaufort – Robert Van “Bob” Pinkston, Sr., 92, Past Grand Master of Masons for South Carolina and husband of the late Betty Helmick Pinkston, entered that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens on Wednesday September 29, 2021.
Bob was born January 24, 1929 in Salisbury, NC, the twelfth of thirteen children, of James Robert and Ossie Ann Elverson Pinkston. He worked in the automotive industry and hardware store in his early career, then helped his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Donald and Mary Polk, operate The Greenlawn Drive Inn Theater until it was sold. Bob retired as Deputy Treasurer of Beaufort County. Following his retirement from the county, he was not satisfied to just sit home so he worked part-time at The Market at Fordham Hardware on Bay Street. At The Market, he was known as “Mr. Fixit”, where he found it a challenge to attempt to repair anything. He was featured in an article in The Beaufort Gazette telling of his repair skills and locksmith work.
Since 1969, Bob was active in Harmony Lodge No. 22, A.F.M. where he was raised and was elected Worshipful Master in December, 1972. In 1976, the Brethren elected him Secretary of the Lodge, a position he held for 25 years.
In addition to his work in his home Lodge, he was a York Rite Mason and served as Presiding Officer of the Chapter, Council and Commandery of the Charleston Bodies. Bob was Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter from March, 2006 – March 2007. He was a member and Past Governor of Charles Towne York Rite College No. 113, OPC; Samuel H. J. Womack Council No. 20, Knight Masons; Charter Member and Treasurer of Joel W. Frampton, Jr. Council No. 85; Charter Member and Past Sovereign Master of Hampton Council 289, Allied Masonic Degrees; South Carolina Chapter, SRICF; Charter Member and Past Sovereign of Saints Johns Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine. He was a 33rd Degree Honorary Scottish Rite Mason of the Valley of Charleston and also a member of Omar Temple, AAONMS. Bob was awarded the Honorary Legion of Honor by the International Supreme Council Order of DeMolay. He was also a Kentucky Colonel. Bob was a member of the Order of The Eastern Star, having served as Worthy Patron with his beloved wife Betty, who was Worthy Matron at the time, and then with his daughter, Mary Donna, and others in Beaufort Chapter No. 133.
Bob served the SC Grand Lodge as Senior Grand Deacon twice, District Deputy Grand Master, Masonic Service Association Committeeman, Grand Steward, and was commissioned Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Sweden in 1979 and also Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. He went through the chairs of the Grand Lodge and was elected Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina serving from April, 1995 to April, 1997. During his tenure as Grand Master, he and Betty traveled across the United States representing the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.
With the assistance of others and a great deal of research on his part, he established the original Charter Date of 1756 of Harmony Lodge No. 22 in Beaufort. He complied and had the history of Harmony Lodge No. 22 published in 1983, as all records were lost or destroyed during the 1860’s.
At the Grand Lodge Banquet in 1995, Bob was presented the prestigious “Albert Gallatin Mackey Medal”, the highest South Carolina Masonic Award.
Bob was a communicant of The Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort. He was also a Prayer Warrior and kept an extensive list of his friends, family and Lodge Family that he recited every night at bedtime.
Survivors include his daughter, Mary Donna Pinkston-Korkosz (Ronda) of Orangeburg, SC, son, Robert V. Pinkston, Jr. (Anita) of Pickens, SC, brother-in-law Donald S. Polk (Jannean) of Beaufort, SC. Also surviving are grandchildren, Heidi Pinkston Robinson (Stephen) of Liberty, SC, Tara McGowan (Daniel) of Seneca, SC, Kelly Porter and Reeci Bryant (Joshua) both of Pickens, SC, a brother Francis B. “Frank” Pinkston (Anne) of Wilmington, NC, a sister Ruth Fitton of Harrisburg, NC, brother-in-law Marvin Yost of Salisbury, NC. Great grandchildren include Aiden Robinson, Amanda Whitehead, Bailey Whitehead, Connor Porter and Asher Bryant and a great number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and beloved wife Betty, Bob was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Judy Pinkston, brothers, Bill, Archie, Lonnie, Staley, Charles and Henry Pinkston and sisters, Alice Pinkston, Mary Yost, Eva Shipton and Nellie Lentz.
Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 pm Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at The Parish Church of St. Helena, 505 Church Sreet, Beaufort, SC with The Right Reverend Alden Hathaway officiating. Burial with Masonic Rites by the Grand Lodge of SC will follow at Beaufort Memorial Gardens, 1 Copeland Drive, Beaufort, SC 29902.
The family will receive family and friends in the narthex of the church from 12:30 to 1:45 pm prior to the service.
The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff of Interim Home Healthcare and Interim Hospice of Greenville for making Bob’s last days at home with his family comfortable and pain free.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605 or to The Parish Church of St. Helena, 505 Church Street,
Beaufort, SC 29902.
Dillard Funeral Home
Pickens, South Carolina
