HOBBSVILLE, N.C. — Gilbert Lawrence Riddick, 73, of 1081 Acorn Hill Road, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, from his home while surrounded by his loved ones.

Mr. Riddick was born in Gates County and was the son of the late Emory Judson and Mary Ward Riddick. A retired construction supervisor with the North Carolina Department of Transportation after 43 years of employment, he was a member of Beulah Baptist Church in Sunbury, loved working in his garden and as a backyard mechanic, and had served in the North Carolina Army National Guard. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, William Shirley Riddick.

Surviving is his wife, Margaret Williams Riddick. On May 4 of this year, they would have celebrated 50 years of marriage. Other survivors include his three daughters, Linda R. Morton and husband, Al, of Suffolk, Stephanie R. Miller, of Gates, and Laurie R. White and husband, Bobby, of Hertford; five grandchildren, Brandy M. Riegle and husband Alex, Josh, Sarah Anne, Rachel Miller and Shelley White; two sisters, Vivian R. Jones, of Edenton, and Mary Louise Riddick, of Windsor; two brothers, Emory J. Riddick Jr., of Sunbury, and Calvin R. Riddick, of Smithfield; a special and devoted nephew, Paul J. Riddick; two faithful canines, Tippy and Benji; and his beloved buddy, Petey, his bird.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in Beulah Baptist Church by the Rev. Tom Hall. Burial will follow in the Riddick Family Cemetery, next to Sandy Cross Church. A gathering for family and friends will be held Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford. Other times the family may be joined at the residence.

Memorial contributions may be made to one’s favorite charity, or to Beulah Baptist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 101, Sunbury, NC 27979. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.