Charles Walter "Walt’ Ricks

Charles Walter "Walt’ Ricks, Jr., 77, of Morganton, NC lost his battle with cancer on Monday, April 14, 2014. Born in Burke County, NC on December 25, 1936, he was the son of the late Charles Walter Ricks and Emma Lee Carswell Ricks. Walt attended Catawba Valley Baptist Church and Snow Hill United Methodist Church. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and was stationed at Steadman Air Force Base in Nevada. He retired from Dixie Container. Walt enjoyed fishing and loved his girls and grandchildren.He is survived by his daughters, Sandi Butler-Buell and her husband, James, of Fort Mill, SC, Jordan K. Ricks and her fiancé, Mike Randolph,, of Morganton, and Norah-Beth Ricks Starrett and her husband, Mark, of Morganton; grandchildren, Morgan Buell and her fiancé, Patrick Efird, Patrick Buell and his wife, Kate, Noah Blake, Malarie-Ann Howell, Emmah-Rose Burroughs, Charles and Serah Randolph, and Emma Lee-Ann Starrett; two great-grandsons, Mason Buell and Nolan Buell; and a sister, Rebecca Loraine Cleveland.In addition to his parents, Walt was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann McGlaughlin Ricks; a step-daughter, Staci Butler; and a sister, Sarah Louise Ricks.A celebration of Walt’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 18, 2014 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center with Dr. Mike Odom officiating. Military honors will be provided by the N.C. National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service.Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.