Obituaries

Richard Ervin Wickliffe (Dick), 93, passed peacefully Thursday, December 11, 2025. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, on July 9, 1932, to Louis DeWit Wickliffe and Edwina Jane Wickliffe, he had an active youth during the Depression and World War II. Dick enjoyed building gas-powered model airplanes and jets, winning multiple trophies for excellence in design and performance. He met his wife, Martha Helen Arrington, in the cradle at Buncombe Street Methodist Church and in high school they became sweethearts.

Dick received his Physics Degree at Furman University, was in the SAE Fraternity and enjoyed tennis and fencing. Dick and Martha were married September 10,1955, with a brief honeymoon in Charleston, South Carolina, where they watched a hurricane come in. They then moved to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where Dick served for 6 months in the Army followed by 6 years in the Army Reserves. Returning to Greenville, Dick worked briefly for Wing T-shirt as a National Sales Correspondent and at Dunean Fabric Design as an Assistant Designer. Dick proudly recalled that his company designed a fabric worn by Queen Elizabeth during a visit to the United States. He then had an opportunity to work with the newly created Apollo program for NASA but instead accepted a position at Dupont Company in Martinsville, Virginia, where he finished his career as their chief Chemical Engineer.

Dick and Martha reared their children in the First United Methodist Church, where they mentored many young couples and their children. Dick also served in several capacities: Administrative Board, Finance Committee, Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Head Usher and cooked loads of spaghetti for the Lunch Bunch for many years. His children often comment that Dick and Martha created a magical childhood focused on God and church and where much laughter and fun was had – especially sleigh riding in the many snows of Martinsville. In addition, his most enjoyable times with his family were picnicking and hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway, family beach trips, spending holidays together and the occasional explosion of his homemade gun powder in the basement. Dick was patient in teaching his children and providing experiences that will last a lifetime. He is fondly remembered by close family and friends as being a gentleman, always welcoming and having a good sense of humor.

Preceding Dick in death was his wife, Martha Helen Arrington and son, Richard Ervin Wickliffe Jr. He leaves behind three children: Martha Gretchen Wickliffe, Richard Todd Wickliffe and Scott Ervin Wickliffe (Beth) and four grandchildren: Isabel Wickliffe Franke (Dillon), Jane Bradford Green (Brantley), Richard Padgett Wickliffe and Elizabeth Scott Wickliffe.

A celebration of Dick’s life will be held at 11:00am Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Roselawn Chapel Funeral Home, with Pastor Kyle Thompson officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior (at 10:00am) to the service. The interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be made in Dick's honor to Hope Co, P.O. Box 4001, Martinsville, VA 24115.