Albert "Buddy" Plato Falls passed away surrounded by his family at the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home on Thursday, August 31, 2023. He has been healed from Parkinson's and has been reunited with his lifelong love, Gwendolyn "Gwen" Pearson Falls. Buddy was born on January 24, 1936, in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. He was the son of the late Gillie Falls, Sr. and Lallage Warlick Falls Holtschulte. Buddy grew up in a large family with lots of brothers and sisters. He is preceded in death by his wife Gwendolyn Pearson Falls, brother, Gillie Falls Jr., and sisters Jackie Falls Ruddock, Jo Ann Falls, and Sarah Katherine Falls Cobb.

Abron Plato Falls graduated from Kings Mountain High School in 1954 and joined the Air Force. After receiving a copy of his birth certificate for enlistment, he learned that his legal name had been recorded as Albert. Upon completion of his service, Buddy attended Western Carolina University where he met Gwen. They eloped and a year later their only child Subetha was born. While supporting his family, he completed a bachelor's degree in accounting and was a charter member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.

Buddy worked as a corporate accountant before starting his own personal accounting business. He had impressive math skills. His only grand-child, Martha Lee, enjoyed going to work with him and quizzing him with difficult math problems, which he could solve instantly in his head. He loved working in the yard and tending to his remarkable flowers and gardens. Growing up, his daughter, Subetha, would be right along beside him also developing his green thumb. Buddy loved to joke and have a good time, but he was an intentional friend and giver that put countless hours toward building relationships with those he loved. He was blessed by many close friendships in his life. He and his wife were longtime members of First Baptist Church of Shelby where they were a part of the Parlor Co-Ed Sunday School Class.

Buddy is survived by daughter Subetha Falls Lancaster and husband Chris of Spartanburg, SC; granddaughter Martha Lee Alexander and husband Mark of Spartanburg, SC; great-grandson Benjamin Brady Alexander of Spartanburg, SC; brothers David Falls and wife Lena of Johnson City, TN and Jack Hamrick and wife Barbara of Hilton Head, SC; sister Diane Falls Swift of Spartanburg, SC; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial to First Baptist Church, 120 N. Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC 28150, or Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Hospice Home, 686 Jeff Davis Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, September 6th at 2:30pm in the Webb Chapel at First Baptist Church of Shelby, North Carolina. A burial will follow at Sunset Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory on Tuesday, September 5th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

Online condolences may be made at www.cecilmburtonfunerlhome.com