Ray Donald Poteat

Born October 18, 1932 in Burke County, he was the son of the late John and Margaret Rector Poteat.

Mr. Poteat served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1953 as a Military Policeman. Mr. Poteat later worked as an electrician and started two businesses in Newton, Poteat Electric Co., and Newton Armature Company (an electric rewind shop). In his later years he worked as a maintenance electrician for Meredith Burda/R.R. Donnelly, where he retired after 16 years.

He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Newton, where he enjoyed helping the church with his years of working knowledge. Ray also volunteered at the Hospice House Store in Hickory checking out electrical items donated for their great cause. Ray enjoyed hiking the many trails this area provides with the great friends and family he had come to know.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Dewey Poteat, and a sister, Helen Lowman.

Left to cherish his memories are his loving wife of 29 years, Lula Poteat, of the home; children, Donald Ray Poteat and wife, Martha of Hickory, NC, Patricia Deckert and husband, Walter of Atlanta, GA, Beverly Ferguson and husband, Steve of Greensboro, NC, Kim Rogers and husband, Christopher of Atlanta, GA; brother, James Powell of Newton, NC; 4 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at St. James Lutheran Church in Newton, with Rev. John Lingle officiating. Mr. Poteat will be laid to rest in the cemetery at St. James Lutheran Church in Newton.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:30 to 1:45 at St. James Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran Church, 1942 St. James Church Rd., Newton, NC 28658 or to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658