Obituary of Ricky Neil Church

Ricky Neil Church, 63, peacefully left this world on July 28, 2021 at Watauga Medical Center. Ricky was born on February 5, 1958 to Charlie and Shirley Church. He grew up in Vilas, NC alongside his two sisters Linda and Brenda. Ricky joined the Navy in 1975. He traveled to many places and cooked many meals on ships during his 3 years in the service. It was on those ships that Ricky discovered two of his many talents, making delicious food and trading cars with his fellow shipmates. After his time in the service Ricky worked at Winn-Dixie in the bakery and then at Appalachian State University in food services. While working Ricky founded RC Motors, a car dealership, In the Heart of Vilas and continued to grow this business once he retired from the college. He met many people at car auctions and bought and sold thousands of cars over the years. Anyone that ever met Ricky knew his incredible love for his wife Cynthia whom he met and married in 1982. Together they had three boys that Ricky was infinitely proud of Seth, Lucas, and Zach. Throughout their lives he offered the best advice and taught them the importance of hard work and how to love their family unconditionally just as he had done. On most weekends you would find Ricky in his happiest place cooking up a meal for his family and finishing it off with a cup of coffee always with plenty of sugar. Ricky is proceeded in death by his father-in-law Edward James Hayes. Ricky is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Cynthia, his sons and their wives Seth and Sarah, Lucas and Jodie, Zach and Ivy and his precious granddaughter Quinn. He is survived by his parents Charlie and Shirley Church, his sister Linda (Junior) Richards and Brenda (Gary) Howard. His brother-in-law Humphrey (Sherry) Hayes, and sisters-in-law Teresa (Keith) Greene and Dara (Eric) Kisselburg, and his very special mother-in-law, Phyllis Hayes. The Family would like to thank the Doctors and Staff of Mountain Home Department of Veterans Services, Dr. Sobol and her team at Seby B. Jones Cancer Center, the Doctors, nurses and staff at Watauga Medical Center, Watauga Medics and Cove Creek first responders. Funeral Services for Ricky Neil Church will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, August 10, 2021 at 3 o'clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Paxton Parrish. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 1 until 3 o'clock, prior to services at Austin & Barnes. Graveside services will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. The family requests those attending to please wear a mask and observe Covid protocol. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Seby B. Jones Cancer Center at Watauga Medical Center, Attn. Foundation, Post Office Box 2600, Boone, NC 28607, or the Alzheimer's Association, North Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209. Online condolences may be shared with the Church family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Church family.