Charles David Ficken

1931 - 2016

Charles David Ficken

6/15/1931-3/19/2016

Charles David Ficken passed away Saturday morning, March 19, 2016. Born in Asheville, NC to Bertha Birkemeyer and Harry Andrew Ficken, he attended and graduated Lee H. Edwards High School (now Asheville High School) in 1949. Chuck attended Wofford College and graduated from University of South Carolina with a BS degree in business Administration, major Management in 1954. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the Air Force ROTC, while in college.

In 1997, Chuck was predeceased by his first Wife, Miriam Quarles Ficken, Winston-Salem, NC, originally of Raleigh, NC and is survived by his Son and his Daughter in-law, Charles David Ficken, Jr. and Kerry Catherine Ficken, his Grandchildren, Miriam Rourke and Evan Charles David Ficken. He was also predeceased recently by his brother Harry Andrew Ficken, Portland, TX, and survived by his Sister in-law Teri, niece Katherine and nephew Charles, also of Portland, TX.

In addition, Chuck is survived by his wife Alice Mighell Foster Ficken, whom he married in 2003, her two children Ashley Weir (Joe), children Thomas and Alice and Hails Foster (Lyndsay), children Helen, Anne and Mary off Winston-Salem.

Chuck is survived by Cousin Jeanne White Sullivan and her family of Charlotte, NC.

Chuck was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force and called to active duty November 1954 at Robins AFB, GA., then he was transferred to Nuclear Weapons School at Lowery AFB, CO, and on to Kadena AFB, Okinawa, then to K-8 Kunsan AFB, Korea to start a new squadron as Operations Officer. After 12 months he was transferred to Whiteman AFB, MO, as a Munitions Officer. Chuck retired from the Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major in 1975.

He returning to civilian life in 1960 to work as a real estate appraiser and mortgage loan originator for the Prudential Life Insurance Co. in Charlotte, Greensboro and Va. Beach, VA. He moved to Raleigh to start a mortgage loan dept. for NCNB, where he met and married Miriam Hill Quarles and started a family with one son, Charles David Ficken, Jr., before eventually settling with family in Winston-Salem.

He was transferred to Charlotte and left NCNB to join First VA Bank in Arlington, VA, to help start a REIT. He returned to NC to start a mortgage loan Dept for Wacamaw Bank, later United Carolina Bank shares in Whiteville, NC and later left UCB to join Integon Life Insurance Corporation's Mortgage Loan Dept. He served as Manager of the Mortgage Loan Dept for Integon Life, until retiring in 1994 with interim positions, during their buy-outs, at Southeastern S&L and High Point Bank & Trust Co., before being asked to come back to Integon to oversee their Mortgage Loan Dept just before retirement.

Chuck was a member and made many meaningful relationships at Reynolda and First Presbyterian Church through his Sunday school classes. He developed Oak Hollow Subdivision in Asheville on family land. After his retirement, he served as a guide for MESDA and Old Salem, and was an avid member of many eclectic societies where those who knew him appreciated his understanding of many interests. He was a licensed NC General Contractor, licensed NC Real Estate Broker and licensed NC Real Estate Appraiser, also a member of the Southeastern Mortgage Loan Association.

Chuck was a wonderful Father, Grandfather and Husband, and friend and will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

A memorial service to celebrate Chuck's life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem on Thursday March 31, 2016, at 2:00PM with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. A private burial service, where he'll join Miriam Quarles Ficken at the columbarium, will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh. In lieu of flowers, the whole family requests that memorials be made to the Capital Campaign for the JCC of Asheville (236 Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 28801) in memory of Charles David Ficken, and in honor of his Grandson, Evan Charles David Ficken. Evan attends schools there, and it has become a meaningful place for the entire family. Frank Vogler & Sons Reynolda Chapel is assisting the family.