Richard Rankin Jarman “Dick”

Richard Rankin Jarman “Dick”, 82, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the Robin Johnson Hospice House in Gastonia, North Carolina. He was born on July 16, 1942, in Gastonia, son of the late William Henry Jarman, Sr. and Mary Delia Rankin Jarman. Dick graduated from Ashley High School, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for one year before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. While serving in the military, he contracted encephalitis and was in a coma for a month, but, after a serendipitous visit from an overseas physician along with guidance from his uncle Dr. Richard Rankin, Dick’s medical team discovered the solution to relieve the pressure and he fully recovered. Dick was honorably discharged from the military, and returned to Chapel Hill where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance, and met the love of his life, Kerry Lamm Jarman. Upon graduation, Dick and Kerry were married on Thanksgiving Day in 1967 in Greensboro, and they returned to live in Gastonia, where they lovingly raised their most special gift, son, Richard Rankin Jarman, Jr. “Rich”. Dick began his over fifty-year career and lifelong love as a Financial Advisor in 1965. He initially trained on Wall Street and often talked about his experiences in New York and the impact they had on his approach to investing and saving. As a child, Dick faced challenges with learning and was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia, which was a life changing discovery for him. He worked daily to overcome the disability and developed tools that allowed him to become an avid reader. He consumed and evaluated every piece of financial information available (daily reads included The Wall Street Journal, Valueline, Barrons). In the industry his peers often said that “they had never met a more well read and knowledgeable financial advisor than Dick Jarman.” He was a fixed income and bond guru, had a brilliant mind and steel trap memory and an uncanny ability to recall historical data. After speaking with Dick Jarman, one always walked away with a small economic or history lesson, and his favorite quote was “slow steady plodding leads to prosperity, hasty speculation leads to poverty.” Dick and Kerry had the most special bond and were an unbelievable team. One of the most painful chapters in Dick’s life was losing his beloved Kerry to cancer, yet he remained steadfast with unwavering faith. Two years later was a most joyful chapter, the opportunity to train, mentor and team with his son Rich to form the Jarman Financial Group. Over the next twenty-four years, Dick and Rich partnered, spending time together daily collaborating on investment ideas and leaning on core morals and values to serve and help clients achieve financial peace of mind. Never wavering on doing what he felt was right for the client, Dick and Rich were available day or night; client first, foremost and always, and his legacy carries on through Rich and cousin Isaac Rankin. Dick was an avid reader of the Bible and true follower of Jesus. He lived his life humbly and in God’s image. As a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church and a man of deep faith, he would regularly quote and reference the Bible and its teachings. Dick served as an elder and a deacon at the church, and he thoroughly enjoyed the Henderlite bible study group. He had a beautiful singing voice and only knew one volume, loud and from the heart with every hymn! He showed us all how to live unpretentiously, and even while his health was declining, he never once waivered or complained, staying laser focused on his faith and path to his ultimate home where he is now healed and reunited with Kerry. Dick valued his relationships with others, especially his family and lifelong clients and friends, with whom he shared many memorable moments of laughter. He adored each of his three grandchildren and faithfully attended their games, church and school events. He also enjoyed a special relationship with Louise Love Keir over the past twenty plus years of his life. He looked forward to trips to the beach, seafood in Calabash and any opportunity to eat peanuts. His famous quotes, financial expertise and boisterous belly laughs were a gift to all who knew him. When asked how he was doing, he most famous response was always, “a lot better than I deserve”, but the reality is that his loved ones, friends and dear clients were incredibly blessed and “got better than they deserve”. Dick and Kerry were happily married for thirty years until Kerry’s death in 1997. In addition to Kerry and his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his brother, William Henry Jarman, Jr. He is survived by his son, Richard “Rich” Rankin Jarman Jr. and wife Amanda; and three grandchildren, Clete, Saylor and Wade, and special companion Louise Love Keir. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Gastonia with Rev. Daniel J. Commerford and Rev. Samuel P. Warner officiating. A private service of committal will be held for the family in the church columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, 604 Meadow Street, Greensboro, NC 27405 and Foundation Fighting Blindness, 6925 Oakland Mills Road, #701, Columbia, MD 21045. Condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.woodlawnfuneral.org. Woodlawn Funeral Home of Mount Holly is caring for the Jarman family.

Posted online on August 24, 2024

Published in Gaston Gazette