Barbara Coith Ricker

Barbara Coith Ricker, 81, wife of Carl James Ricker, died Wednesday, September 24, 2008. Born in Orlando, FL, she was the daughter of the late Alvin Theodore and Bernice Soller Coith. Mrs. Ricker was a homemaker and graduate of Rollins College where she was in Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, where she and her husband served as advisors to Senior High Fellowship. She was a member of the choir for forty years, served on the historical committee and was a deaconess. Mrs. Ricker worked as a DJ for WDBO during World War II and became Miss. Barbara on Romper Room in Orlando, FL. She taught school before becoming a Patient's Representative at Greenville General Hospital and later Director of Volunteers. She also worked for the SC State Adoption Agency until 1970. She was an adventurous woman who celebrated her 75th birthday piloting a glider.
Barbara felt one of her greatest accomplishments to be a loving marriage of 60 years to Carl. Surviving, in addition to her husband, are two daughters, Elizabeth Mangum of Columbia, and Janet Dewberry and husband Lewis of Alpharetta, GA; two sons, Sam Ricker and wife Renee of Easley and Don Ricker and wife Laura of North Augusta, SC; eight granddaughters, Jane Mangum, Ashley, Anna, Alex, and Madelyn Ricker, Cameron Sexton and husband Jay, Lauren and Kendall Dewberry; a sister, Helen Weeks and husband Donald of Orlando, FL; and a brother, Ed Atkinson and wife Letitia of Portsmouth, VA. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Turner Fund, 200 W. Washington St., Greenville, SC 29601. Visitation will be Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 12 noon to 12:45 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church parlor with the funeral service following at 1 p.m. in the Harper Chapel. Burial will be private.