Services tomorrow for Springs exec Canter

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/6/2007 1:19:00 PM

Fort Mill, S.C. – Services will be held tomorrow for industry veteran Rick Canter, who passed away Dec. 4 at age 57.

Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 200 West Gay Street in Lancaster, S.C.  A funeral will follow at the church at 3 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Summerall Chapel of the Citadel at a later date.

Canter started his career at Springs working summers at the Lancaster Plant. Following his graduation from the Citadel in 1972, where he earned a BA in History, Canter began his professional career at Springs in 1974 in the management training program.

He quickly rose through a variety of positions including sales rep in the Atlanta office. He then joined Pillowtex in 1981, where he ultimately became senior vp, sales. He moved to Louisville Bedding as national merchandise manager. In 1995 he joined American Fiber Industries, where he held a number of increasingly responsible executive roles in sales and marketing.

Canter returned to Springs with the acquisition of AFI in 1999, and served as senior vice president of sales.

Canter is survived by his wife Deborah E. Canter; two sons, Richard Allen Canter Jr. and Kyle Chandler Canter both of Charlotte; his mother, Irma H. Horton and her husband Pierce Horton of Lancaster; a sister, Rebecca “Becky” Cauthen and her husband Billy of Lancaster; and a special niece and nephew, Lindsay Plyler of Lancaster and Scott Plyler of Murrells Inlet.

Memorials may be made to: Class of '72 Scholarship Fund c/o Citadel Foundation 171 Moultrie Street Charleston, SC 29409

Online condolences may be sent at lancasterfuneralhome.com.