Rueben Alvin Essick

ESSICK WELCOME - Rueben Alvin Essick, age 81, of Lincoln Street, Welcome, went to be with the Lord Wednesday morning, April 8, 2009 in Forsyth Medical Center after an extended illness. The Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2009, at Bethesda United Methodist Church Family Life Center, with the Revs. Doug Hochmuth, Ned Owens, Don Routh, Darrin Everhart, and Mr. Josh Fletcher officiating. Burial will follow in the Church cemetery. Mr. Essick was born September 6, 1927, in Davidson County, to Arlie Luther Essick and Girla Kinney Essick. He was a graduate of Welcome High School and Spencer' s Watchmaking School in Spencer, NC. He was formerly employed with John Leonard' s Jewelry in Winston-Salem, prior to owning and operating Rueben' s Jewelry in Welcome. He was Lexington District Lay Leader of the United Methodist Church and a lay speaker. At his church, he was the Adult Men' s Sunday School teacher; member of the Methodist Men, Chancel Choir, and a Lay Leader of the Church. He was retired from Northwest Elementary School and Chaplain of Welcome Fire Department. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Ralph Essick, A.L. Essick, and his twin brother, Winfred Essick; and sisters, Agnes Adkins and Mintie Everhart. Surviving are his wife, Betty Everhart Essick of the home; daughter, Ginger Grubb and husband, Brian; grandchildren, Kelli Tesh and husband, Steven, and Kerri Barker and husband, Eric, all of Welcome; one great-grandchild, Corbin Tesh; a brother, Bill Essick and wife, Frances, of Welcome; and sisters, Arwilda Everhart of Lexington and Freda Shoaf and husband, Glen, of Welcome; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Davidson Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, and other times at the home of the granddaughter, 228 Lincoln St, Welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideon' s International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214, Hospice of Forsyth County, 1100-C S. Stratford Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, or Bethesda Family Life Center, 2922 Bethesda Road, Lexington, NC 27295. Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net.