Terry Earnhardt

Terry Keith Earnhardt, 79, of Concord died November 27 at Tucker Hospice House. In life, Terry was a fun-loving and hardworking man with a contagious laugh. He was a kind and loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

Terry was born in Concord, February 26th, 1943 to the late Lee Crawford Earnhardt and Myrtle Elizabeth Johnson.

He is a 1961graduate of Winecoff High school where he was Co-Captain of the football team and voted "Best All Around" by the senior class.

Terry started in the material handling industry in 1968 with General Battery Corp. as a shop technician. In 1970, he and a friend; Buddy Costner, started their own battery company in Charlotte, North Carolina as an agent for Barrett Battery Corp. of Toledo, Ohio. In 1977, Terry and Buddy founded Industrial Battery & Charger Inc. Terry remained Co-Founder and CEO upon his death. IBCI is now one of the largest family-owned battery and Charger Company in North America.

Terry was an honorary lifetime member of the Tarheel Keystone Club, on the Board of Directors and lifetime member for the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County. In 1980, he was given the "Father of the Year'' award by the Boys and Girls Club. He was a member of the Piedmont Shag Club and enjoyed attending the Spiders on the Beach, as well as the Devils on the Beach at the OD Arcade in North Myrtle Beach. He enjoyed live music, especially beach music, and his favorite band was "Too Much Sylvia". He was often spotted wearing his red sunglasses and 2MS T-Shirt while listening to Ray Scott and Eric Bowman on the radio.

He also enjoyed late evening cruises on his pontoon boat at High Rock Lake and spending time in NMB with friends and family. Terry loved to spend time with his grandchildren and attend all their sporting and extra-curricular events.

Terry enjoyed watching Duke Basketball, NASCAR racing, and NHRA Drag racing. He was a Carolina Panther PSL ticket holder since 1995 and liked to attend games with his family.

He met the love of his life, Linda Frye, in church and married September 23, 1962. Linda became a business partner with Terry by becoming a part of T&L, LLC.

Terry made everyone feel like family. He was known for his kind and gentle personality. His ever-present smile, his positive attitude, and his ability to make you feel like the most special person will forever live on in our hearts.

Terry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Linda Frye Earnhardt, sister Martha Earnhardt Thomas and her husband Mike, sons Keith Earnhardt and his wife Rebecca and Tim Earnhardt and his wife Patti; grandchildren Michael Mace and his wife Ashley; Crystal Carper and her husband Matt of Rock Hill, SC; Kate Earnhardt, Emily Earnhardt; and great grandchildren Cody (USMC) and Kelsey Carper, and Cole and Eli Mace. Nephew Chad Thomas and niece Marilyn Lowe Upright of Concord, NC.

The memorial service will be held Thursday, December 1, at Forest Hill United Methodist Church, 265 Union St. N. Concord, at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the sanctuary. Burial will be private.

For those who wish to honor the life of Terry Earnhardt, memorials can be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County, 247 Spring St. NW, Concord, NC 28025; or Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081