Victor "Vic" Lee Flake, Jr. passed away the evening of May 21, 2017, after an extended battle with diabetes (nearly 60 years) and dementia (more than 14 years), at Courtland Terrace in Gastonia, NC. He was 84 years old.

Vic was born February 11, 1933, in Columbia, South Carolina, the second child and first son of Mae (Hornsby) and Victor L. Flake, Sr. He married Louise Wallace in 1952.

Vic had a very active life, graduating from the University of South Carolina, serving in the Air Force as a rescue helicopter pilot, and then selling group insurance for more than 30 years. After Vic left the Air Force in 1959, he and Louise lived in Columbia, SC, then Baton Rouge, LA, then Gastonia, NC, before fulfilling a dream of buying a small farm and raising beef cattle in Bessemer City, NC. In 1998 they retired and moved to Kings Mountain, NC. Most recently, Vic and Louise were members of Central United Methodist Church in Kings Mountain. Vic was an avid sports enthusiast, proudly purchasing a permanent seat license for the Carolina Panthers as soon as they became available. He was a loving caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, and brother.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than sixty-one years, Louise Wallace Flake, and by his parents, sister Mrs. Vernelle Flake Register, brother Jerry Eugene Flake, Sr., and grandson Joshua Flake.

Vic is survived by his three children and their spouses, Cathy and Ed Barrows of Holly Springs, Patti and Phil Weathers of Shelby, Buddy and Angie Flake of Gastonia; his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Linda Flake, of Irmo, SC; nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and six nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held at the graveside at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Westview Gardens, 1123 Edgewood Road, Bessemer City, NC, officiated by Reverend Sally Queen of Myers Memorial United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Myers Memorial United Methodist Church at 301 S. New Hope Road, Gastonia, NC or Loray Girls' Home at 104 South Firestone Street, Gastonia, NC.

The family expresses their special thanks to the staff at Courtland Terrace in Gastonia for their loving care over the past several years.

GUEST REGISTER AVAILABLE AT WWW.HARRISFUNERALS.COM

ARRANGEMENTS: HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC