TEGA CAY – Mr. Richard Canter Sr. died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007. Rick was born June 15, 1950 in Tipp City, Ohio, a son of Irmgard Hofmann Horton and the late Richard Eugene Canter. His family moved to Lancaster S.C. in 1964. He grew up in First United Methodist Church of Lancaster. Rick graduated from Lancaster High School in 1968, earning athletic letters in golf and football. Following high school, he attended The Citadel as a history major from 1968 to 1972. He graduated as a Cadet Lieutenant, holding numerous positions of responsibility. Rick held The Citadel and his fellow graduates in the highest esteem. He maintained a special place in his heart for his Kilo Company classmates and possessed a unique and ever-present talent for identifying their merits and conveying his praise. His manner lifted them up. Bold, tenacious and loaded with leadership, Rick epitomized The Citadel spirit. He was a true Citadel Man and has been a lifelong supporter of the college. He was a colonel in the Brigadier Foundation. He entered the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant and attended the Infantry Officers’ basic course at Fort Benning, Ga. He was released from active duty due to the downsizing of the Army after the Vietnam War and continued to serve in the Army Reserves. Rick started his career at Springs working summers at the Lancaster Plant. Following his graduation from The Citadel in 1972, where he earned a BA in History, Rick began his professional career at Springs in 1974 in the management training program. He quickly rose through a variety of positions including Sales Rep in the Atlanta office. He then joined Pillowtex in 1981, where he ultimately became Senior Vice President, Sales. Rick moved to Louisville Bedding as National Merchandise Manager. In 1995, he joined American Fiber Industries where he held a number of increasingly responsible executive roles in Sales and Marketing. Rick returned to Springs with the acquisition of AFI in 1999 and served as Senior Vice President of Sales. He is remembered with great respect and admiration as the consummate professional and leader by his many colleagues and dear friends. Over the years, Rick was recognized by his industry with numerous awards for excellence. Rick is the proud father of two sons, Ricky and Kyle. He doted on their activities from fishing to paintball and he coached Ricky’s football team. Rick lived to do and care for others. His home on Lake Wylie was everyone’s home. He was happiest when he was standing over a grill, sharing his home and his watercraft with a houseful of family, friends or Citadel classmates. A service to celebrate Rick’s life will be held Friday, Dec. 7, 2007, at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Lancaster, with the Rev. Dan Batson officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 2 until 3 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Summerall Chapel of The Citadel at a later date. Rick is survived by his wife, Deborah E. Canter; two sons, Richard Allen Canter Jr. and Kyle Chandler Canter, both of Charlotte; his mother, Irma H. Horton and her husband, Pierce Horton of Lancaster; a sister, Rebecca Becky Cauthen and her husband, Billy of Lancaster; and a special niece and nephew, Lindsay Plyler of Lancaster and Scott Plyler of Murrells Inlet. Memorials may be made to Class of ’72 Scholarship Fund, in memory of Richard A. Canter, c/o Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409. Online condolences may be sent at lancasterfuneralhome.com. Lancaster Funeral Home and Cremation service is serving the family of Mr. Canter. Fort Mill, S.C. – Services will be held tomorrow for industry veteran Rick Canter, who passed away Dec. 4 at age 57. Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 200 West Gay Street in Lancaster, S.C. A funeral will follow at the church at 3 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Summerall Chapel of the Citadel at a later date. Canter started his career at Springs working summers at the Lancaster Plant. Following his graduation from the Citadel in 1972, where he earned a BA in History, Canter began his professional career at Springs in 1974 in the management training program. He quickly rose through a variety of positions including sales rep in the Atlanta office. He then joined Pillowtex in 1981, where he ultimately became senior vp, sales. He moved to Louisville Bedding as national merchandise manager. In 1995 he joined American Fiber Industries, where he held a number of increasingly responsible executive roles in sales and marketing. Canter returned to Springs with the acquisition of AFI in 1999, and served as senior vice president of sales. Canter is survived by his wife Deborah E. Canter; two sons, Richard Allen Canter Jr. and Kyle Chandler Canter both of Charlotte; his mother, Irma H. Horton and her husband Pierce Horton of Lancaster; a sister, Rebecca Becky Cauthen and her husband Billy of Lancaster; and a special niece and nephew, Lindsay Plyler of Lancaster and Scott Plyler of Murrells Inlet. Memorials may be made to: Class of ’72 Scholarship Fund c/o Citadel Foundation 171 Moultrie Street Charleston, SC 29409
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