Charles Ray ‘Abe’ Bricker

1938-2026

SALEM — Charles Ray “Abe” Bricker, devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the age of 87.

Abe was born in Goshen Township, Ohio on Dec. 14, 1938, son to Samual Jay and Wilma (Hoopes) Bricker. He was a 1958 graduate of Goshen Union High School and served as president of the Goshen Union High School Alumni Association for many years. Abe always looked forward to meeting up with classmates and attending the reunions.

Farming was in his blood and from the time he could walk, farming became his passion. So much so that when Abe met the love of his life, Betty, he convinced her to move out to the country and build a home on Bricker Farms. As the owner of Bricker Farms and Bricker Homestead, Abe had a work ethic like no other. Living by the mantra “If you’re born tough, you’re tough a long time”, he never missed an early morning milking no matter what time he rolled in from a late-night poker game or dancing with Betty all night before.

Abe and Betty married on Oct. 17, 1964, and were happily married for 58 years before Betty’s passing. The two were blessed with a son and daughter — John (Jackie) Bricker of Salem, Ohio, and Christine (Rob) Murphy of Henderson, Nevada, which gave way to four grandchildren, Josh (Niki) Bricker and Kristen (John) Sinkovich of Salem, Ohio, and Logan and Dylon Murphy of Henderson, Nevada, and five great-grandchildren, Weston, Charlee and Keaton Bricker and Oakleigh and Parker Sinkovich.

Just as Abe converted Betty to living the country life, Betty converted Abe to being an honorary Romanian. After marrying Betty, Abe was a member of the Romanian Society “Leul” of Salem, Ohio for over 40 years, serving as a Board Member and serving at the national level as a Delegate to the National Conventions and as a Board Member for the national Union & League of Romanian Societies. He truly embraced our Mom’s heritage.

Abe dedicated his life to giving back through community service. As a life member of the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department, he joined the fire department in 1962, actively fighting fires for the next 32 years. He spent 17 years as Fire Chief and Fire Prevention Officer. After handing over the reins of Fire Chief, he was then appointed as a Trustee of the Fire Department. Upon his retirement as Chief, Abe was given an award from the Goshen Ruritan Club for his “Selfless Dedication and Service to the Residents of Goshen Township” in addition to the several awards received during his tenure for his many years of dedication and service. Under his leadership, a sub-station was built, the ambulance service was created, and the Mahoning County HazMat Team was organized, with Abe serving on the HazMat Board and receiving awards for his services rendered and involvement. Abe was also a member of the Mahoning County Fire Chief’s Association, serving as President from 1990-1991 and receiving an award in 1994 for his dedication and perfect attendance since the conception of the Association, and was a member of the Columbiana County Fireman’s Association, serving a tenure as President and an alternate representative of the Ohio Firefighter’s Association. He put his heart and soul into making the Fire Department better for the community as a whole and received the “Outstanding Fire Service Award” for recognition for dedicated services from the Ohio State Firefighters’ Association and was awarded the recognition of being a “Lifetime Member” of the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department from the State of Ohio.

To further his community service, Abe ran for Goshen Township Trustee and served as Trustee for more than a decade. Abe was a proud member of the community and was very well known for always being willing to help, often being the first call when anyone was in need. His wife Betty used to say he was on call for everyone in the community 24/7.

Our Dad will be most fondly remembered as the “patriarch” of our family. His love for all of us and how he always protected and provided for us all, we will be forever grateful. His most valued role was as “Grandpa Abe” to both his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There is no doubt that after retirement, our father’s favorite place to be was wherever his grandkids were. Whether at the baseball diamonds across the West Coast, the skating rinks in Las Vegas and LA, the ballfields behind Goshen Center or the gymnastics centers in Salem and Alliance, our father spent his 80’s watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren compete at all levels with the biggest smile on his face. He will be greatly missed by all the families along the way who adopted him as “Gramps.”

Abe was preceded in death by his wife Betty (Stoita) Bricker, his parents, Jay and Wilma Bricker, his stepmother Mary Bricker, his sister Shirley Williams, his infant brother Dale Roger, his brothers-in-law John Stoita and John Dudley, and his sisters-in-law, MaryAnn Bricker and Patricia Stoita. In addition to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Abe is survived by his brother Ron, his sister Nancy Dudley, his brother-in-law Chuck Williams, and his stepsisters Marianne Vandenburgh and Jeanette Mckenzie.

Calling hours will be held for friends and family on Sunday, April 26, from 2 to 7 p.m., with a Fire Department Drive-By to occur at 6 p.m., and on Monday, April 27, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, with the funeral services to be held thereafter on Monday, April 27, at noon, all at Stark Memorial Funeral Home located at 1014 E. State St. in Salem, Ohio. There will be a graveside service at Hope Cemetery in Salem, Ohio.

With all our love Dad, we hope you are dancing again with Mom in heaven.

4/23/26