Richard Midkiff

At Presbyterian Hospital on July 24th, 2015 surrounded by fifteen members of his family who adored him, Richard Allen Midkiff, 77, joined the Church Triumphant. Instead of his family birthday celebration planned for that night, Richard went home to Heaven at 4:57 p.m.

Richard was born July 17, 1938. He attended Concord High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served as a radio operator in the United States Army Tank Commandos. For thirty years, he was a proud member of the Charlotte Police Department. Richard was a member of many professional and social organizations.

Richard loved to travel especially to the western states and the coast; he loved dining at a variety of eclectic restaurants and became famous for his hams for family gatherings and his pulled pork. He was a lifelong learner with an inquisitive mind, and, if Richard told you a fact on a wide variety of subjects, you knew it was accurate. Richard’s life reflected Psalms 37:30 “The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice.”
As patriarch of the family, his gift of hospitality made the family celebrations special. He was a friend of God’s creatures and loved to recite the traditional Apostles Creed. His funny stories will never be forgotten; he loved discussing UNC football and basketball, the Atlanta Braves, and his cats.

Richard is survived by his beloved, Joyce, their son, Jeff, and his sisters, Carolyn Anne Midkiff Harris of Harrisburg, North Carolina and Ellen Hill Midkiff Mayes of Rock Hill, South Carolina. His loving nieces and nephews are Thomas Grier Harris, Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, Tracie Hill Mayes (Brian) Stewart of Greenville, South Carolina, Winnie Ellen Harris Newton of Harrisburg, North Carolina, Joci Jessup “JJ” Mayes (Mark) Griffin of Marietta, Georgia, James Lamont (Valynda) Mayes III of Arlington, Virginia, and Elizabeth Ellen Mayes of Rock Hill, South Carolina. His adoring great nieces and nephews are Thomas Grier Harris III of Harrisburg, North Carolina, Sarah Olivia Harris of Asheville, North Carolina, Brian Alexander Stewart and William James Stewart of Greenville, South Carolina, Gabriel Ellis Newton and Chloe Carolyn Newton of Harrisburg, North Carolina, and Grace Ellen Griffin and Davis Marvin Griffin of Marietta, Georgia.

Funeral services will be held at Hartsell Funeral Home in Concord August 3 at 1:00 p.m. with the Reverend Brian D. Stewart and Reverend Charles Efird officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from noon to the beginning of the service. Interment will be in Carolina Memorial Park in Harrisburg in the Circle of Honor.

Hartsell Funeral Home is serving the Midkiff family.