Charles Alexander Gupton, Sr.

NEW BERN, N.C. – Charles Alexander Gupton Sr., 84, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 29, 2016.

Charlie (or Red, as he was affectionately known to family), was born on Sept. 9, 1931, to George Ennis
Gupton Sr. and Mary Belle Coggins Gupton. He grew up on a tobacco farm in rural eastern North Carolina and moved to Charleston, S.C., in 1950, where his oldest sister lived. He began work with the Coca-Cola Company in 1951 as a route salesman.

In 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and served in Panama from 1953-1955. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1955 and returned to work with Coca-Cola in Charleston until 1959, when he accepted a position as a route salesman with Lance Inc.

Charlie moved his family to New Bern, N.C., in 1969 when he was promoted to the position of branch manager with Lance. He continued to work as a branch manager until 1994, when he retired.

Charlie met the love of his life during his time in Charleston, marrying Ernestine Hamilton Gupton on
Dec. 8, 1955. The couple shared 53 years together and had two sons, Charles A. Gupton Jr. and Scott E.
Gupton. Ernestine passed away in December 2008.

He was a devoted member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in New Bern, where he served for many years on the deacon board and as chairman of the board. He and Ernestine were active participants in the church’s prayer ministry and nursing home ministry. Charlie was also active in the church’s prison ministry, spending most Tuesday nights sharing the gospel with men behind bars.

In addition, Charlie was an avid golfer and member of River Bend Golf and Country Club, where he won the club championship in 1973, 1974 and 1977.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, M.K. (Bud) Gupton and Thomas Boyd (Pete) Gupton; and a sister, Evelyn Gupton Reid. He is survived by his two sons, Charles A. Gupton Jr. and wife, Linda, of Louisburg, N.C., and Scott E. Gupton of New Bern, N.C.; two sisters, Molly Gupton Jordan and husband, Tommy, of Charleston, S.C., and Teresa Mae
Gupton Purdy and husband, Jim, of Greensboro, N.C.; a brother, George E. Gupton Jr. of Charleston, S.C.; four grandchildren, Zachary Gupton, Caroline Gupton, Grant Gupton and Abigail Gupton; three great-grandchildren; and a host of loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 1:00 PM with Dr. Scott Gleason officiating. Entombment to follow immediately at Greenleaf Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends and relatives one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Family Life Center at Tabernacle Baptist Church, New Bern, N.C.