Earl Neal Wike

Earl Neal Wike, age 89, of Statesville, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Born on February 5, 1939, in Taylorsville, NC, in Alexander County, he was the husband of the late Nancy Ann Fisher Wike and the son of the late Joseph Franklin and Mary Lou Burke Wike. He was a 1955 graduate of Harding High School in Charlotte and Charlotte College, where he earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration. He proudly served in the US Army from 1960-1962 where he served as company clerk for the 32nd Transportation Company in Ludwigsburg, Germany. He worked with his father in the family-owned grocery store, Eighth Street Market in Charlotte. He retired from Nations Bank (now Bank of America) as a vice president on September 30, 1998, after 35 years. He was an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman where he was involved in their meal delivery ministry. He dearly loved spending time with his family and working in his yard and garden.

Earl is survived by one daughter, Mary Wike Sanders (Glenn) of Davidson, NC, one son, Neal Wike (April) of Huntersville, NC; four granddaughters, Kristin Hart (Brian) of Durham, NC, Kathryn Woods (Matt) of Lenoir, NC, Brianna Wike of Virginia Beach, VA, and Jenna Wike of Raleigh, NC; and one great granddaughter, Annie Karsyn Woods of Lenoir, NC. Also surviving are two half-sisters, Judith Wike of Charlotte, NC and Johanna W. Johnson (Scott) of North Myrtle Beach, SC and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to Nancy, his wife of 61 years, and his parents, Earl was also preceded in death by an infant son, Edwin Lee Wike.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 3:00 pm at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman, NC, with Pastor Dieter Punt officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:30 pm until 2:45 pm at the church. He will be buried on a later date beside his wife Nancy at Sharon Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Charlotte, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Earl’s memory to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Rd Statesville, NC 28625 or Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, PO Box 308 Troutman, NC 28166.

Troutman Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Earl Wike family.