DAVE QUICK
July 25, 1932-Sept. 14, 2015
Dave Quick, local businessman and civic volunteer, dies at 83.
Retired Maj. Dave Quick, a proud citizen of Goldsboro since being stationed at Seymour Johnson in 1965, died at Kitty Askins Hospice Center Monday night. Like everything he did in life, he faced this final battle with optimism and determination that were his hallmark, and went peacefully with his family at his side.
He was born Malcolm David Quick July 25,1932, in Florence, S.C., to Malcolm Francis and Inez Turner Quick.
In 1951, straight out of high school, Dave enlisted in the United States Air Force. He became a command pilot and a communication officer, who flew as a forward air controller.
While serving in Vietnam, he started a night FAC operation in the Delta, which grew from one aircraft and one crew chief to an outfit of 10 aircraft, 20 pilots, a navigator and 10 crew chiefs, and earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Medal.
In his 20-year military career, he flew more than 6,000 hours, and was recognized for his service with an Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, an Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters, a Vietnam Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the National Defense Service and Good Conduct medals.
Though he loved flying, Dave retired in 1971 to be with his family full time and to grow roots in the community that became his true home.
In civilian life, he was a self-starter driven by an entrepreneurial spirit. Initially working as a manager at Linde Manufacturing, he moved to Weil Oil Co., which he later purchased. Weil Oil became Quick Petroleum, the beginnings of Quick's Inc., which included the sales and service of self-service car washes from Virginia to South Carolina and several retail businesses he developed and sold: Quick Way Convenience Store, Sentry 111 Hardware and Fast Lube, the first 10-minute oil change in Wayne County and the second in the state.
In his late 70s, he worked with the U.S. Census Bureau training and supervising enumerators, until a quadruple bypass forced him to stop.
At age 80, he trained and tested for a North Carolina broker's license to sell businesses with Sunburst of Raleigh.
Self-employment allowed him to commit major amounts of time to what gave him a deep sense of purpose: His diverse and constant volunteer work focused around strengthening community.
A relentless champion of Wayne County, he was a 40-plus-year member of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. His work with the chamber's Military Affairs Committee, MOAA (Military Officers Association) and the Order of Daedalians kept him connected to the Seymour community.
His work on the chamber's Transportation Committee and with the North Carolina Global TransPark reflected his dream of bridging Wayne County to Raleigh and the greater North Carolina economy.
He was a longtime member of Kiwanis Club of Goldsboro, which named him Kiwanian of the Year and established a scholarship in his honor to cover new member dues.
Many generations of Wayne County children will remember him as the Kiwanis train conductor on weekends in Herman Park. When it came to community, his attitude was never "it can't be done," but "how can we do it."
In every stage of his life, he carried and shared his strong faith. He served Madison Avenue Baptist Church as a deacon, deacon chair, Sunday school teacher and handicap ramp builder.
He was also an active member of the North Carolina Baptist Men and Women's Disaster Relief organization, helping those in need after natural disasters.
In his business dealings, he trusted people at their word, and used any opportunity to help others start, or restart, their own lives.
Upon completion of basic training, Dave was awarded the American Spirit Honor Medal for the display of leadership qualities best expressing the American spirit: Honor, initiative, loyalty. Those who knew him would recognize these qualities as an enduring code that guided him through his adult life.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ingrid Quick; two daughters, Karin Thompson of Goldsboro and Tanya Quick of New York City; their husbands, Andrew Thompson and Jay Walitalo; and the love of his life, his granddaughter, Kate Thompson.
A memorial service with military honors will be held Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, with Dr. Robert Fulkerson and Dr. Talmage Williams officiating.
A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kitty Askins Hospice, Cure for the Colors at SMOC or Madison Avenue Baptist Church.
Train rides in Herman Weil Park will be free Saturday in his honor.
His final desire was that his memorial be a celebration of his life, which he always described in the single word, "terrific!"
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on September 16, 2015 1:49 PM