Charles Edward Dickinson Jr., 78, of Hickory passed away Sunday, June 23, 2019 at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Born in Catawba County on August 17, 1940, he was the son of the late Charles Edward Dickinson Sr. and Mae Cook Dickinson.
Charlie was a member of Bethel Church in Mountain View, NC. For more than 30 years he owned and operated a convenience-store/gas-station/mechanic-shop first known as “Charlie’s Grocery”. More simply known as “Charlie’s”, the place was an icon in the Mountain View Community. It was a place where young and old would gather to fellowship with one another. Charlie was a 30+ year veteran of the Mountain View Volunteer Fire Department. When the fire call sounded, as he headed out the door he would toss the keys to whomever was at the counter and say “run the place till I get back.” Charlie was a veteran of the US Army and a Mason, longtime member of the Cooksville Masonic Lodge. He loved the outdoors, fishing, camping and hunting. Customers would sometimes find a “Gone Fishing” sign on the door of the store.
A friend and a flirt, he was always smiling and telling a “silly”. Strangers were simply friends he didn’t know yet. So he called everybody “Doc”. Charlie will be dearly missed by his family and community, including the dear friends at Trinity Ridge Nursing Home, where he resided his last several years.
Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Betty Fisher; brother, Danny Dickinson; sister-in-law, Maxine Dickinson; and brother-in-law, Johnny Lynn.
He is survived by his son, Larry Charles Dickinson of Hickory; daughter, Paula Dickinson Gettys and husband Ryan of Hickory; grandchildren, Stefan Dickinson Gettys, Magdalen “Maggie” Ryan Gettys; great grandchild, Grahm Dickinson Gettys; sister, Kay Lynn; brother, Joe Dickinson; brother-in- law, Ray Fisher; and a number of nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews completing a close family.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 4:30 pm. at Bethel Church. The family will receive friends and share “Charlie” stories following the service in the family life center at the church. Refreshments will be provided. Rev. Dr. Anne Abernathy Wepner will be officiating the service.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to 1) “Bethel Church Memorial Fund”, for Charlie’s Play It Now and Pay It Forward Scholarship Fund (Bethel Church 4547 Bethel Church Rd., Hickory, NC 28602), and/or the “Mountain View Volunteer Fire Department” (3323 S NC Hwy 127, Hickory, NC 28602).
