Carl Oscar EricksonSpruce Pine - Carl Oscar Erickson passed away peacefully on November 17, 2016. He was born on May 21, 1924 in Ames Iowa to Elmer and Helen Erickson. He was the eldest of 4 children. When he was one, his parents moved to the mountains of North Carolina to improve his mother's health. His visiting uncle described their new home as "not having a flat place to set a table".Carl and his siblings grew up on Bent Road near Spruce Pine NC. He told many interesting stories of life on the Toe River. In 1942 after high school he joined the Army Air Corp and was immediately deployed to the Pacific Theater. He told the story of being barely 18 years old and getting on a ship in Norfolk, VA. They did not know whether they were going to Europe or the Pacific until they woke up the second day and because of the position of the sun, they realized they were headed to the Pacific. They rode for forty days and finally reached their west India destination. He spent his years in service on Wake Island studying weather conditions for fuel deliveries. After 4 years of service to his country, he graduated from Gilford College with a Bachelor of Science degree. He then graduated with a Masters in Meteorology from the University of Chicago.Carl worked as a meteorologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington DC from 1949 to 1983 after which he retired to return home to care for his elderly father.Never one to rest on his laurels, Carl began volunteering, delivering meals on wheels and preparing tax returns for the Senior Center in Newland. It was there that he met the love of his life, Vivian Hartley Greene. They married in 1989 and made their home on Carl's family farm on Bent Road.Carl was a member of Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Spruce Pine where he served as elder and treasurer.Mr. Erickson is survived by his wife, Vivian Hartley Erickson; daughters, Molly Holden and husband, Wayne, Martha Hill and Amy Brown and husband, Dennis, all of Newland; sons, Thomas Greene of Newland and John Greene and fiancé, Carrie Stewart, of Spruce Pine; sister, Louise Danielsson and husband, Lars, of Sweden; l6 grandchildren, l7 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Joan Erickson of PA; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nina Case; and brothers, Kent and Leif Erickson.A memorial service will be held on November 27, 2016 at Pine Grove United Methodist Church, 53 Pine Grove Road in Spruce Pine. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Pine Grove UMC with a memorial service immediately following.Memorial gifts honoring Carl's life can be made to Pine Grove United Methodist Church, 53 Pine Grove Road, Spruce Pine, NC 28777.Online condolences may be shared at the website: www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Erickson family.