Eric Lake Faley

Eric was born on October 18th,1933 to George John Vincent and Geneva Lake Faley in Rutherford, NJ. He was the 4th of 6 children. The family lived in New Jersey until Eric’s senior year of high school. Despite contracting rheumatic fever and missing 2 years of school, he graduated from high school on schedule and proceeded to Guilford College in NC, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Physics. After graduation, Eric was hired by Western Electric where he met his first wife, Erline. Shortly after their marriage, he was drafted by the Army and sent to White Sands, NM where he tested atomic warheads for 2 years. He continued in the Army Reserves after moving back to Winston-Salem, NC, where he and Erline started their family. Eric and his family moved to various places while he was employed by Western Electric/Bell Labs/AT&T, the final being Greensboro, NC. He retired in the late 1980’s.

After retirement, Eric worked in various jobs, including as a handyman. In the early 2000’s, he was introduced to Edith ‘Edee’ Harrill by her daughter and son-in-law for whom he was doing a handyman job. Eric and Edee married in 2006 and lived at Oak Island, NC until her unexpected passing in 2010. Eric always embraced the role of father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was kind, patient, funny, incredibly wise, and loved teaching all types of skills. He was passionate about building and fixing things as well as being fascinated by cars, boats, and airplanes.

Eric was preceded in death by his parents, George and Geneva Faley, sisters Patricia Wood, Doris Kleinfelter, brother Douglas Faley, his first wife Erline Rierson Faley, and his loving late wife Edith Harrill Faley (whom he called his sweetie Edee).

He is survived by his two sisters Jane Lonney and Lora Bingham, as well as his three daughters: Teresa Faley Bohrer (Seth) of Oak Island NC, Emily Faley Honeycutt (John) of Raleigh NC, and Miriam Ellen Faley of Greensboro NC. He is also survived by four stepdaughters: Katherine Harrill Brooks (Jeffrey) of Southport NC, Edith Elaine Harrill Trotter of Raleigh NC, Patricia Harrill Maribona (Ricardo) of Bolivia NC, and Deborah Harrill Rudolph (Scott) of North Myrtle Beach SC. He also leaves behind ten grandchildren: Erin Bohrer of Oak Island NC, Julia Bohrer of Oak Island NC, Leia Outen (Hunter) of Raleigh NC, Karly Brooks of Brooklyn NY, Lauren Higgins (Brett ) of Jacksonville FL, Erika Maribona of Bolivia NC, Aidan Maribona of Littleton CO, Noah Rudolph (Lexi) of Wilmington NC, Erin Rudolph of Mount Pleasant SC, and Luke Rudolph of Clemson / North Myrtle Beach SC. Finally, Eric had one great-grandchild Walker Outen (Leia and Hunter) of Raleigh NC, with two more on the way. Eric also leaves behind his very beloved dog Buddy and the many friends he made over a lifetime.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 15th, 2025 at Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral Home at 3:00 p.m. with a gathering of family and friends at 2:00 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA or the American Diabetes Association.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.