William Mack “Chal” Stikeleather Jr., 87, of Harris Bridge Road, Stony Point, died Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville, following a brief illness. Mr. Stikeleather was born Nov. 26, 1920, in Stony Point, to the late William Mack Stikeleather Sr. and Annie Belle Brown Stikeleather. He was a graduate of Stony PointHigh School and lived his entire life in the Statesville area.On Aug. 9, 1941, he married Martha V. Rufty. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater with the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
He was crew chief of telephone and telegraph, Co. B. 302nd Signal Operations Battalion, serving in the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns.He was awarded the EAME Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Meritorious Unit Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Medal. After his discharge, he returned to Statesville and worked at Bunch Hatchery, and later became a partner in Stikeleather Brothers Inc., who developed and owned ForestHeightsShopping Center.He, along with his brothers, Lindsey and Grier Stikeleather, owned and operated Stikeleathers’ Grocery before it was sold to Harris Teeter.A grocer and merchant for more than 35 years, Mr. Stikeleather was well-known for his many years of friendly service as produce manager at the two grocery stores.Following his retirement, he enjoyed working on the family farm in north Iredell, growing and sharing produce from his garden.But the pride of his life was his loving family.His selfless devotion to his wife, Martha, a patient at Autumn Care Nursing Home in Statesville, has been a special inspiration to his family. Mr. Stikeleather was a life-long member of Concord Presbyterian Church in Loray, where he served as deacon, elder and church treasurer.He was a faithful member of the J.C. Stikeleather Sunday School Class. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by six brothers: Ray, Vance, H.P. “Hugh,” Joe, Grier and Wade Stikeleather, and two sisters, Mary Stikeleather Barnes and Myrtle Stikeleather Stone. He is survived by his wife, Martha V. Rufty Stikeleather; four children:Dr. Jim Stikeleather and his wife, Melissa, of Chapel Hill; Dare Stikeleather Ballard and her husband, Garry, of Mooresville; Anita Stikeleather Murdock and her husband, Dennis, of Mooresville; Emily Stikeleather Baker and her husband, Bill, of Statesville; five grandchildren, Ben Stikeleather and his wife, Betsy, of Chapel Hill; Dennis Murdock Jr. of Charlotte; David Murdock and his wife, Melanie, of Charlotte; Katie Baker Collins and her husband, Parks, of Statesville; Liz Baker of Chapel Hill; and three great-grandchildren, Claudia and Carter Stikeleather of Chapel Hill, and Baker Collins of Statesville; two brothers, Lindsey Stikeleather and Arthur Lee “Tab” Stikeleather, both of Statesville, and one sister, Nancy Stikeleather Alexander of Knoxville, Tenn. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Concord Presbyterian Church, officiated by Rev. Kyle Goodman. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Military Rites will be provided by Hiddenite VFW Post # 10,000 and Taylorsville VFW Post # 5466. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Chapman Funeral Home in Stony Point. Pallbearers will be:Paul Stikeleather, Terry Miller, Grant Miller, Randy Dellinger, Frank Setzer, Stanley Gibson, Billy Summers, Barney Ramsey. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Stikeleather/Stevenson Sunday School Class of Concord Presbyterian Church and members of VFW Post # 10,000 of which he was a member. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Concord Presbyterian Church, 3867 Taylorsville Hwy., Statesville, N.C.28625, or the Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Rd., Statesville, N.C.28625. Notes of sympathy may be sent by clicking on the "Condolence" link below. Chapman Funeral Home will be assisting the Stikeleather family.
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Our Sympathy to all the family of Chal. We always loved talking to him and appreciated his help and friendliness when he was at the grocery store. God bless you, Richard and Joan Douglas
Dear Jimmy, Dare, Anita, Emily, (and spouses) Just want you to know that Ruth Ann and I will be praying for you. We are so sorry we cannot be there for the visitation or funeral tomorrow. I have an all day teaching schedule on Tuesdays and there simply is no one who can substitute ffectively this near the end of the semester. It is sad to see another great man with the Stikeleather name pass from us, but on the otherhand he has made it to heaven and who would want to come back from there. I always admired your dad (my uncle). He always seemed at peace....I suspect because he was at peace with God. He reminded me so much of grandpa Stikeleather...appropriately he carried his name, and carried it with honor. You can be proud of your dad and I am sure you will miss him greatly. My dad, Ray, passed in April 1986. They are together now...what a reunion!
God Bless, Love,
Larry and Ruth Ann Stikeleather
