Charles Kickliter

Charles Eugene "Gran-Gran" Kickliter, age 88 years, passed away on September 8, 2012 following a period of declining health. The son of Dowlin C. Kickliter and Jettie Waters Kickliter, he was born on July 27, 1924 in Tampa, Florida and later moved to Sarasota, Florida where he grew up. Charles graduated from Sarasota High School in 1941, and his college years were spent at the University of Florida and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). He interrupted his college studies during World War II joining the US Navy, where he served in the Pacific theater as a Lieutenant JG aboard a submarine chaser. After his service in the Navy, he returned to Georgia Tech earning his BS degree in Chemical Engineering in 1947. Following his graduation, he married Carolyn Kyker of Newport and had three children, Judy, Phil, and David. His employment career began as a paint chemist with Jones-Dabney Paint Company in Louisville, Kentucky for several years before relocating to Newport as a business partner in Kyker Motor Company. After several years at Kyker Motor Company, he opened Kickliter Ford Incorporated, in 1962 , in Newport. He owned and operated this automobile dealership until 1987 when he retired and turned his interests to his family and recreational pursuits. He relished walks through the Clifton Heights neighborhood and the opportunity to converse with friends and neighbors that he encountered. He loved his grandchildren and faithfully followed their sports activities from T-ball through the collegiate level. He was an avid outdoors man and enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking with family members. Charles was an original member of the Smoky Mountain BassMasters Club. Reared in the Baptist faith, Charlie was a member of the Bayhaven Baptist Church in Sarasota, Florida. After relocating to Newport in 1951, he joined the First Baptist Church where he served the Lord for many years. He taught Sunday School for over 50 years, served as a deacon and deacon chairman for many terms, and was elected Deacon Emeritus as a result of his faithful service. A long time member of the Kiwanis Club, Charlie served as President of the Newport Kiwanis in 1962. He also served on the Newport City School Board, the Union Cemetery Board and the Tax Appraisal Board until late 2011. He leaves to mourn his passing: daughter, Judy, and husband, Kennie Bowling; son, Phil, and wife, Becky; son, David, and wife, Libby; grandchildren Justin and Kristin, Brett and Leigh Anne, and Matthew and Casey; great grandchildren Kate, Loretta, Halle, Nate, and Abe. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Neal Sr. He is survived by two sisters Gloria Nelson, Knoxville, and Rosemary Moses, Sumter, SC, and numerous nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to attend funeral services at First Baptist Church of Newport. The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 8:00 PM on September 10th. The funeral service will be held at the church on September 11th at 9:00 AM, with the burial immediately following at Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Newport Building Fund. Manes Funeral Home in charge.

Charles Kickliter

July 27, 1924 - September 8, 2012