Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

July 3, 2017

CHARLOTTE – Richard "Dick" Gordon Fuqua died on July 3, 2017, after a brief struggle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. His final days were spent at Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster. His final moments were spent with his beloved wife, Eileen Scholl, at his bedside, sharing with him loving memories of their life together. He was one month shy of his 85th birthday and 45th wedding anniversary.

Richard was born on Aug. 5, 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri, the second of Ernest and Juanita Fuqua’s seven children. He lettered in baseball, football and track and field in high school, then played semipro baseball for a year before moving to Atlanta to work as a manager for Avon. He served with the U.S. Army in Japan before returning to Atlanta to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech. Richard spent his career working in sales for Wood Fiber Industries, his job taking him to Charlotte in 1962. This is where he made his home and had his two beloved children, Kent and Catherine.  Life then took its greatest turn when mutual friends introduced him to Eileen. They were married on Aug. 11, 1972, and together lived a rich, full life.

Richard retired in 1996 and happily accompanied Eileen around the world in her second career as a diplomat with the State Department. He enjoyed living in Europe and South Africa, and his travels to such far-flung locales as Botswana, Indonesia and Tibet further reinforced his progressive view of the world and the importance of living together in peace. They returned to Charlotte after she retired and enjoyed family, friends and all that our city has to offer.

Richard Fuqua loved his wife and family, and his precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He had a hunger for learning, whether it was reading a range of nonfiction that included politics and history or taking a music theory course so he could better appreciate the symphony. His liberal roots go back to 1967 when he worked for anti-Vietnam War presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy and continued with his activities in Democrat Party politics, civil rights, and fair housing endeavors.   He loved traveling and sailing competitively. Though an introvert, he kept friends and family entertained with a dry wit.  Those who knew him described Richard as a gentle and kind man who never had an ill word to say about another.

Richard is survived by his wife, Eileen; two children, Kent Fuqua and his wife, Pretam, of Sierra Madre, Calif., and Catherine Fuqua Forbes of Lantana, Fla.; one sister, Sandra Miller and her husband, Ron, of Marietta, Ga.; one brother, Robert Fuqua of Gardner, Kan.; three grandchildren – Alexander Fuqua of San Diego, Joel Campbell of Boone and Victoria Nelson of Arcadia, Calif; and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two women he and Eileen mentored – Nakisha Jones of Raleigh and Shameka Ellis of Charlotte.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Barbara Silvey and Mary Winningham; brothers Gary Fuqua and William Fuqua; and great-grandchild Moriah Nelson.

At the end, before his illness made it difficult for him to breathe, Richard said he lived the life he wanted to live. He died at peace.

The family is deeply grateful for the love and kindness shown by everyone at Hospice. Instead of flowers, a gift to honor Richard’s memory can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 E. Ohio St., Suite 500, Chicago, Ill. 60611 or Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104 or to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 East Seventh St., Charlotte, NC 28204.

A service to celebrate Richard’s life will be held Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 2:00 PM at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, 234 N. Sharon Amity Road, Charlotte, NC 28211.  The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall at the church.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte. Condolences may be shared online at www.kennethpoeservices.com. 704-641-7606.