Obituary for Robert Edward Trickle
Robert Edward Trickle had a favorite saying. “We are all just a heartbeat away from eternity.”
On Monday, March 20, 2023 while resting in his favorite chair, his heart pumped its last beat. At that moment he was released from his earthly body and stepped through the gates of heaven to meet his Savior face-to-face. We can only imagine the celebration when he was reunited with his mother, Marion DeKalb Brix, his father, Robert Wallace Trickle and other family, friends and military buddies.
Robert was born with the God given ability to teach. Before his walk with the Lord, Robert was a self-made man and at the age of 19 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He used that ability to become a master instructor. His expertise was in the field of high reliability soldering and micro-miniature modular repair. He was chosen by his superiors to train technicians in the space program. Among others, he personally instructed the technicians that assembled the space shuttle Challenger.
While serving our country, he received the Air Force commendation medal. The Air Force good conduct medal, with a five oak leaf cluster. The NCO professional military education regiment ribbon, with a one oak leaf cluster. The National Defense Service medal and an Outstanding Unit Award.
Robert was a native of Newark, Ohio. He retired out of Patrick Air Force Base in Florida and eventually settled in the beautiful town of Mars Hill, North Carolina. As a natural born teacher, he taught Sunday school and enjoyed singing in the choir. He also took the time to invest in the next generation by teaching public speaking classes to teenagers through the Rotary Club.
All those that were close to Robert knew he was a little “rough around the edges” but he loved the Lord with all of his heart. His wife says he was a “pretty good cook” and loved gardening and was known for his beautiful geraniums. He was a cousin of the late Dick Trickle of NASCAR racing fame.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are his first wife of 20 years, Georgette Morgan (Trickle) Koelker, mother of Eric Trickle (Jamie) and Lynette Trickle Hoppenstand (Greg); grandchildren, Joshua, Matthew, Cara, and Autumn Trickle (Eric). They served with him throughout his military career.
His second wife of 37 years, Kathleen Hornyak Trickle, mother of Christopher Trickle, and legal guardian of Christopher’s brother Logan Hooker; Brothers- in-law, Donald Hornyak (Linda) and William Hornyak (Nancy); sisters- in-law, Carol Hornyak Dunn and Mimi Hornyak Bryant; nieces and nephews, Kristin Kochis Culberson, Jennifer Kochis (Carol) and Michael, Alana and Briana Bryant (Mimi). As well as a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with military honors, will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, March 24, 2023, in Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. Reverend Kermit Ball will officiate. The family will receive friends 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to: Yancey County Humane Society 211 Kind Hearts Way/PO Box 1016, Burnsville, NC 28714.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.
On Monday, March 20, 2023 while resting in his favorite chair, his heart pumped its last beat. At that moment he was released from his earthly body and stepped through the gates of heaven to meet his Savior face-to-face. We can only imagine the celebration when he was reunited with his mother, Marion DeKalb Brix, his father, Robert Wallace Trickle and other family, friends and military buddies.
Robert was born with the God given ability to teach. Before his walk with the Lord, Robert was a self-made man and at the age of 19 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He used that ability to become a master instructor. His expertise was in the field of high reliability soldering and micro-miniature modular repair. He was chosen by his superiors to train technicians in the space program. Among others, he personally instructed the technicians that assembled the space shuttle Challenger.
While serving our country, he received the Air Force commendation medal. The Air Force good conduct medal, with a five oak leaf cluster. The NCO professional military education regiment ribbon, with a one oak leaf cluster. The National Defense Service medal and an Outstanding Unit Award.
Robert was a native of Newark, Ohio. He retired out of Patrick Air Force Base in Florida and eventually settled in the beautiful town of Mars Hill, North Carolina. As a natural born teacher, he taught Sunday school and enjoyed singing in the choir. He also took the time to invest in the next generation by teaching public speaking classes to teenagers through the Rotary Club.
All those that were close to Robert knew he was a little “rough around the edges” but he loved the Lord with all of his heart. His wife says he was a “pretty good cook” and loved gardening and was known for his beautiful geraniums. He was a cousin of the late Dick Trickle of NASCAR racing fame.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are his first wife of 20 years, Georgette Morgan (Trickle) Koelker, mother of Eric Trickle (Jamie) and Lynette Trickle Hoppenstand (Greg); grandchildren, Joshua, Matthew, Cara, and Autumn Trickle (Eric). They served with him throughout his military career.
His second wife of 37 years, Kathleen Hornyak Trickle, mother of Christopher Trickle, and legal guardian of Christopher’s brother Logan Hooker; Brothers- in-law, Donald Hornyak (Linda) and William Hornyak (Nancy); sisters- in-law, Carol Hornyak Dunn and Mimi Hornyak Bryant; nieces and nephews, Kristin Kochis Culberson, Jennifer Kochis (Carol) and Michael, Alana and Briana Bryant (Mimi). As well as a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with military honors, will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, March 24, 2023, in Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. Reverend Kermit Ball will officiate. The family will receive friends 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to: Yancey County Humane Society 211 Kind Hearts Way/PO Box 1016, Burnsville, NC 28714.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.