Philip H. 'Skip' Vetter, III

philip iii

Carthage, NC
Philip H. 'Skip' Vetter, III age 68 died Wednesday (January 9, 2013) at his home.
A Celebration of Life will be 2:00 PM Saturday, March 9th at the Carthage Community Building (Old Town Hall)
Skip was the only son of the late Philip Henry Vetter, Jr. and Thelma Lee Vetter, and lived in Rockville, MD. In 1965 he married Charlotte Tabler Vetter, also a native of Rockville. He and Charlotte and their son Brian moved to Moore County in 1978 and made their home in Carthage. He was a US Army Veteran of Vietnam and a clock designer for the Ingraham clock company in Laurinburg. He operated an art gallery in Southern Pines where he became known for his artistry - his prints of birds and detailed drawings of trains adorn many Moore County walls. He was also an accomplished carpenter and woodworker, building his home and working on several others for friends over the years. When he retired he and his wife Charlotte began touring the eastern seaboard in their RV, going to the coast and the mountains, and attending music festivals. He became an avid and very skilled photographer, sharing his work on a flickr website for all to enjoy.
Skip had been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of lung cancer five years ago, but he chose to doggedly keep on living his life. He was always there at Merlefest, though some years not feeling so great because of his ongoing treatments. Skip was a great fan and friend of the Kruger Brothers, and regularly traveled with them, including trips to Europe and Canada, the most recent being last summer to attend the premiere of 'The Spirit of the Rockies.' He refused to stop living, seeing friends, spending time with family, traveling when he could, photographing the beauty of the world around him and sharing it with others. On his flickr photo page he listed his occupation as 'trying to make the most of every day', and that is exactly what Skip did.
In addition to his wife Charlotte he is survived by his son Brian Vetter and wife Shannon of Apex; an uncle Elmer Vetter and wife Ida Belle of Moorefield, WV; an aunt Mary Susan Ware of Bel Air, MD and his beagle Emma.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: FirstHealth Hospice Foundation, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374, or to the donors favorite charity.
Fry and Prickett Funeral Home is assisting the Vetter family.
Condolences: PinesFunerals.com

View current weather.

Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. So sorry for your loss. We will miss him greatly. We will keep you in our prayers. We love you. Maynard and Hilda Holbrook

  2. Brian and Shannon, What a life you father lead. I wish that I had known him…I know you are proud of him and I know that you were there for him through it all. Love to you and all of your family.

  3. Charlotte my thoughts and prayers are with you as you navigate through loosing your best friend, side kick and love. Skip’s smile and spirit was so bright you could see it a mile away! You two always made my Friday nights special with great chats and smil

  4. He was a friend of mine … In my heart I will carry the sound of his laughter and the joy he brought to our lives. I hear his words "to not wait but live each day to the fullest". I hope to honor Skip by doing just that….

  5. Carthage mourns the loss of a great citizen and the world has lost someone who viewed life as an Artist always searching for the beauty in his objects! Skip lived his life with a passion and shed a lovely light to those who ever meet him. I can see him dr

  6. Charlotte and Family,
    I am so sorry to hear of Skip’s passing. My prayers go out to you and the family.
    I have several of his wonderful prints and enjoy them so much. Judy Fee Mellenthien

  7. A friend of Skip’s from Flickr. I am sorry to hear of his passing and my heart goes out to you, his family in this time of loss. He was a wonderful guy.

  8. Our thoughts and our prayers are with you as you grieve
    the loss of Mr. Vetter. The Lord will give you the strength to continue during your difficult time of grief.
    God’s Peace,
    Staff and Pat Brown, Aftercare Director
    Pines Funerals

  9. I met Skip when he came to work for the Ingraham Company in Laurinburg and we immediately became friends. Skip was such a talented person in so many areas and just so enjoyable to be around. we worked on many projects together, accomplished a lot but alwa

  10. Skip and I went to Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville Maryland (Class of 1963) We were good friends all thru school often spending the day at either his parents home in Glen Hills or my home on
    Wall Street in town. We shared many classes to

  11. Skippy lived 3 doors up from me on Grandin Ave
    Rockville, Md. We went to Lone Oak Ele, Broome Jr. High & RMHS together (Class of ‘63). Skip was a great childhood friend. Shared a lot of good times together.

    Tommy Dunn
    Diboll, Tx
    936-414-2063


Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle


Accessibility Tools
hide