Oscar Joseph Veno Sr.

Oscar Joseph Veno, Sr. born March 9, 1926, went on to meet the Lord Monday, July 21, 2025, where he was reunited with his wife who he married in 1947, Gertrude Alma Rudd Veno and his daughter and son-in-law, Jann and Dalton Connor. He was the only remaining of his siblings, Dorothy and Desalee. Mourning his earthly departure are his children, along with their spouses: Joe and Shirley Veno, Judy and Jimmy Boyd, and Jackie and Wayne Lambert. The Veno grandchildren, Carmen, Jamie, Lyndsay, Haskell, Chris, Sommer, Britton, and a number of beloved step-grandchildren along with their families, grieve as well at their loss. Oscar is survived by twelve great-grandchildren.

Oscar was born at home to Ida Moore of Cross and Harry H. Veno in the areas of rural Berkeley County known as Sandridge. At six years old his mother passed in childbirth and Oscar was raised by his father and step-mother, Mamie. He attended school in the local schoolhouse, then moved on to work on the farm, which was customary at the time. He worked at the Navy Yard, then joined the Army and served in the 10th battalion infantry army training company, but would eventually make a career in the timber business. Oscar purchased his first truck on April 30, 1948, and went to work cutting cross ties and post for Coppus Cresote Company in Charleston. He purchased his first tractor, a Super M. Farmall in 1954, marking the move from horses and mules and a swing cart for log hauling. He was recognized in his industry for many firsts. By 1961, and after many new purchases and developments in the industry, O.J. Veno and Son was named top producer in the trucking territory DPP. While winning industry awards and finding themselves submerged in the fast-growing automation of the industry, from the mechanical perspective to the radio communication arena, the business thrived. Oscar continued in the timber industry at the top of his game until retirement. After a short time of boredom and desire to be in the ever-changing timber market, he re-entered the business again and worked until 1991, retiring, finally after 48 years. He then spent every minute of an 8–10-hour workday restoring and bringing back to life many tractors. His primary love was in the Ford 8N, which, ironically enough, was the first tractor he ever used in the logging woods once automation hit the industry in 1956.

Oscar was a stalwart to the local logging industry, a dedicated member of Sandridge Baptist Church, and a devoted husband and father. Most importantly, he will be remembered for his unwavering love for his wife and family. The life-long lessons he passively instilled in all who knew him, more specifically his 4 children, their spouses, his 7 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren, are immeasurable. His mere presence conveyed humility, compassion, and discipline. He worked to his full potential and produced a work product of 100% of his ability and demanded the same from all around him. He was kind, diligent, and intelligent. He was creative and a master with his hands. He could build anything, fix anything, and did both frequently. He was frugal, conservative, and environmentally consciences. He believed in zero waste prior to its trendy popularity in this era. He had no tolerance for disorder and thus lived an orderly life. The personality trait of impatience wrought and chiseled his profile like iron. When you watched him from afar, you knew he was working at full capacity, and this was all because of impatience. He wanted everything done now, and because of that, he was the most efficient person known to man. Work was his hobby, but he recognized the importance of family. He spent most warm weekends at Lions Beach with his children, boating and skiing. He lived. He loved to drive fast, and some would say it was because he was a risk-taker; many would say it probably went back to impatience. The hard personality traits were so well balanced with his deep and often vailed characteristics of compassion. Those traits peered through the small holes of the veil, evidencing themselves in acts of calm quietness, such as watching the birds from his window as they chirped around the homemade feeders, which he always kept full. It could be seen as he held the small infant grandchild, as he peered into their eyes, knowing they were the combined handiwork of His God and his own blood. He was wrought like steel, from the difficulties of the great depression, losing his mother at the young age of 7, and working his fingers to the bone his entire life. He was also a loving rock to build upon the great foundation, which is our family. He was handsome and solid…... A rock any family would be happy to build upon. He will live on every day as we all work to exhibit his characteristics that we long to see in ourselves.

The family will receive friends Thursday, July 24 from 5-7PM at Avinger Funeral Home.

Services for Oscar will be held Friday, July 25, at 11AM at Sandridge First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Reverend Owen Hill officiating.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Avinger Funeral Home, 2274 Eutaw Rd, Holly Hill, SC 29059, (803)496-3434.