Richard Eric Carver

Richard Eric Carver, faithful husband, beloved father and proud “Big Poppy” went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 2, 2025. Rich was born in South Bend, Indiana on October 15, 1968, to Bobby Wayne Carver and Edith Pauline Carver.

Rich attended James Whitcomb Riley High School – Class of 1986. Rich made the move to Knoxville, Tn to attend the University of Tennessee and was a walk on for his beloved Vols Football team where he was lovingly known to his teammates as “Eclipse”.  He returned to his hometown of Indiana to continue his studies at Ball State University where he studied Science. In 1994 Rich moved to Bristol, Va to help care for his father and took a job at the newly opened Walmart at exit 7 while finishing school at ETSU. Wal-Mart is where he met his beloved bride, Manisha. Rich and Manisha were married on May 25, 1996.

In 1996 Rich went to work for Tri Tube Inc in Abingdon, Va. and eventually transferred to Utility Trailor in Glade Spring, Va where he proudly held the position of a Superintendent and made many close friendships.

Richard’s true calling in life came in 1996 when he rededicated his life to the Lord and accepted the call to ministry. Richard served alongside his wife Manisha in ministry for 29 years. He served as a Youth Worker for Life Line Ministries while obtaining his Ministerial license from World Harvest Bible College.  He then accepted the position as Youth Pastor where he served for many years. During his time as Youth Pastor, Rich found his true joy in ministering to young people, organizing programs and writing teaching materials for youth of all ages. Rich had a heart for people and a desire to see them succeed in every area of their life, discover their true purpose in Christ and serve in the kingdom. Rich had recently transitioned to Associate Pastor and enjoyed opportunities to travel and minister with his wife by his side. During his journey in the ministry, he developed a compassion for the mission field. He traveled with his conference on a mission trip to Cambodia, which impacted his life and renewed his fire for outreach. In recent years he had made many special friends in the Appalachian Pentecostal Holiness Conference and enjoyed conferences and services with “his people”.

 Along with his work in ministry, Rich’s deepest love was his family. His greatest joys came from watching his children grow up and succeed in life. Some of his best memories were spent on a field or a court watching his kids and their closest friends do what they loved. Taking family trips, gardening, having a house full of young people making memories and more recently weekly “Carver Family Dinners” were his favorite past times.  But of course, trips to K-town, as he so lovingly referred to it, to watch his beloved TN VOLS, were some of his favorite memories.

Rich is survived and deeply missed by the love of his life Manisha, His pride and joys - Son Isaac Carver and wife Kaitlin; Daughter Hannah Williams and husband Trevor and most recently his precious jewels Grandsons Neyland Wayne Carver and Knox Montgomery Carver and special fur babies Oakley and Remi. Special Mother-in-Law Deborah Osborne (Randall) and Father-in-Law Jack Osborne (Cathy).

Services will be held at Life Line Ministries Worship Center 29255 Ryan Road Meadowview, VA 24361 with family visitation on Sunday June 8, 2025, from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. and service at 6:00 pm. Committal service will be at Forest Hills Memory Garden in Abingdon, VA on Monday June 9th at 11:00 A.M. Officiating will be Pastor Darrell Martin with special comments by Pastor Ron Fredericks, Pastor Larry Meadors and Pastor Charles Williams.

Pallbearers will be special friends:  Eric Martin, John McCormick, Josh Osborne, Josh Ezzell, Adam Blosser and Dylan Rouse.

Honorary Pall Bearers will be special friends: Keith Osborne, The men of Life Line Ministries Worship Center, Big E, Lando, Jay-Bug, Isaiah, Elijah, Makaiah, Uriah, and The Management Team of Utility Trailer Glade.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt Thank you to all the wonderful medical staff that have shown such great care for our Richard E over the last several weeks also to all family and close friends who have shown such an outpouring of love and support in so many various ways to our family.

Frost Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Mr. Richard Eric Carver.