Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Randall R Padgett, 61

CAROLINA BEACH — Randy Padgett passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 23rd after being diagnosed with cancer a few short weeks ago. He will be remembered for his quick wit, wonderful sense of humor, love of laughter, and kind heart.  Randy grew up in Carolina Beach and loved being in the ocean or pool (except the summer that he watched Jaws in theaters and slept on his parent’s bedroom floor), and learned to scuba dive, later becoming PADI certified.

His first job was at Britt’s Donuts where he was famously known for sleeping on the flour sacks after the morning rush, and for accidently knocking a hole in the wall from leaning back on a stool – something that remained there for years and was shown to his children with a laugh and “Look what your dad did!”

Randy loved board games and Legos, often hunting for games from his childhood to play with his family, eagerly sharing happy memories from the past and making new ones.  Favorites included Dungeon Dice, King Oil, and the Magnificent Race – Curse you Dastardly Dan! He could often be found hosting cookouts on the weekends, with horseshoes, corn hole, and steaks on the grill, with dance music well into the night.  He was also known for his amazing Halloween parties. As a teenager everyone knew he could be found “Going Over and Under” the bridge to party with his friends most nights.

Sundays were for football – as a young man his favorite team was the Miami Dolphins, which he talked endlessly about their perfect 1972 season.  As an adult, his love for the Carolina Panthers was very apparent, and he could often be found cheering for his team, if not tailgating at the stadium in Charlotte, then at home with a boisterous shout of “Touchdown, Wooo!” taking delight at everyone’s laughter at his antics, as he jumped up and down hard enough to make the entire house shake.

Always a prankster, Randy’s family and friends will recall spontaneous holly berry fights on the holidays, being chased with a turkey on his fist around the kitchen while he gobbled and laughed every Thanksgiving, Sunday dinners, and special family recipes.  He was always prepared with a myriad of off the cuff gags, including terribly flavored jellybeans, nerf dart battles, mimicking his favorite cartoon character, Scooby Doo, or singing some of his favorite songs in a deep baritone – everyone heard “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks or “You Never Even Call Me By My Name” by David Allen Coe very often! 

Friends and family will also remember Randy as a daredevil who would try anything once!  From bungee jumping at Jubilee Park, rollercoasters, to riding on the hood of a Land Cruiser down a sand dune, or racing his car first car, a 1965 Mustang down Dow Rd. as a teenager.

Never afraid to make a friend, Randy will be missed for his kindness, good humor, and making others laugh.

Randy’s family is asking that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in Randy’s name to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare. The level of compassion, dignity, and respect that he received at hospice allowed for a quiet and painless transition from this life to the next. His family would like to ensure that others are able to receive this same level of care. Their goal is to memorialize Randy in the heritage garden at LifeCare so that all his friends and family have a place to reminisce.

Donations can be made in his name to:

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401 or online at https://lifecare.org/donate/

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