Allen P. Fortner

Allen P. Fortner, 82, of 2320 Highway 248 South, husband of Sophia Merchant Fortner, died Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at his home. Born on Lowell Street in Ninety Six, he was son of the late Carrie Baldwin Fortner and James Oscar Fortner. He was very small at the time of his birth and his sister commented that he was so small you could put him in a teapot, which is where he got his nickname, �Tincy�, which is how his family and close friends referred to him throughout his life. He attended the Ninety Six school system, which was called the Village School at that time. His father died when he was three years old, leaving behind a large family. Mr. Fortner worked at Bank�s Ice Plant, Taylor�s Grocery Store, was a paper boy for The Index Journal, attended school and had many friends growing up in the mill village. In 1943, he went to work at the Ninety Six Mill, married Sophia Merchant in 1946 and then went into the Army. He returned to Ninety Six, working at the mill, going to school under the GI bill and opened his first business in Ninety Six, Sinclair Gas Station and Used Car Lot in the early 1950s, but never opened on Sunday. He bought the Old Ninety Six Hotel and opened Fortner Motor Company. He loved buying and selling land, building and remodeling houses and working with his sons, Allen and Phillip. Mr. Fortner always loved what he was doing and shared that joy with his family. He was a member of Kinards United Methodist Church for over 40 years and loved attending Epworth Camp Meeting and held many positions with both organizations. Mr. Fortner fought Parkinson�s Disease for the past ten years with patience, the help of God and his family. Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter, Glenda Fortner Vines and her husband, Stanley; two sons, Allen Fortner and his wife, Pam, and Phillip Fortner and his wife, Debbie, all of Ninety Six; grandchildren, Al Fortner and his wife, Angie, Julie Fortner Lardizabol and her husband, Eric, Amy Vines Somaini and her husband, Jamie, Tammie Fortner Southerland and her husband, Daymon, Brian Fortner and his wife, Lauren, Jonathan and Erica Rushton; great grandchildren, Eden and Jayden Southerland, Katie Marie Fortner and Sophia Somaini; special caretaker and wonderful family friends, Ann Mitchell and Stevie Balchin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Geneva Moore and Etheleen Davis and his four brothers, Eugene Fortner, Rev. J. B. Fortner, Edward Fortner and Alvin Fortner.

Allen P. Fortner

December 16, 1969 - March 24, 2010

Explore Obituaries &
Upcoming Services