Richard White Hanckel III

Richard "Ricky" White Hanckel III, 82, of Charleston, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest Friday, March 14, 2025. His Funeral Service will be held Sunday, March 23, at 4:00 p.m. at St. Philip's Church (142 Church Street). Following the service, the family will receive guests in St. Philip’s Parish Hall. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

Ricky was born November 10, 1942, in Charleston, South Carolina, son of Richard White Hanckel, Jr., MD. and Ruth Farmer Hanckel. He grew up on Church Street, the quintessential lowcountry gentleman with a love of Charleston so strong that it seemed he was born with saltwater and pluff mud coursing through his veins.

Ricky and his crew of young friends spent their afternoons traversing the sleepy city landscape while trying not to set foot on the ground--they scaled brick fences, garage roofs, and wrought iron gates as a means to get wherever they wanted to go. Ricky enjoyed many outdoor hobbies, including scouting with the Boy Scouts, riding horseback, sailing in the Charleston Harbor then and throughout his life. But it was in his youth that Ricky discovered one of his greatest joys, one that would last his entire life: deer hunting at Middleton Hunt Club. He spent hundreds of Saturdays in the woods quietly stalking white-tailed deer and at the bench telling tales and cracking jokes with some of his dearest friends.

After graduating from Charleston High School, Ricky attended the University of South Carolina; however, even Columbia was too far away from his beloved lowcountry, so he moved back to Charleston to begin his long-standing and successful career as a Realtor and appraiser. Before the days of GPS, Ricky knew every nook and cranny of the tri-county area and was skilled at pairing buyers with just the right property. The bulk of his career was spent as a partner at Hanckel and House, Inc. and then later at Daniel Ravenel Real Estate. He also served his country in the United States Coast Guard.

Ricky had a lot of friends in Charleston, and fortunately, one of them suggested long ago that he give a smart and beautiful young speech pathologist a call just after she had moved to town. He and Mary Anne met on a blind date and were happily married for over 55 years until she passed away in 2022. Although she preferred to spend her Saturdays on a sofa watching the Gamecocks play football rather than on a deer stand watching for whitetails, she and Ricky shared an unwavering love for one another, their children, and their grandchildren.

Long before Charleston became a top travel destination, Ricky recognized the beauty and magic of the lowcountry and never had much desire to travel anywhere else. He enjoyed sharing his love and knowledge of the city with everyone he met. He had a strong faith and was a dedicated member of St. Philip’s Church, where he served on the vestry, was a frequent usher, and attended several Bible studies regularly. He will be remembered by his church family for his warm hospitality, friendly greetings, hugs, and firm handshakes.

Ricky was a member of many social clubs, holding leadership roles in many of them at one time or another, including the Carolina Yacht Club, St. Andrew’s Society, Middleton Hunt Club, South Carolina Society, The Charleston Club, Charleston Ancient Artillery Society, and St. Cecilia Society. He always had a good story to tell, and some of them were even true! He spent many afternoons in the back bar of the CYC shooting pool, playing cards, and snacking on beef tenderloin. He more than fulfilled his civic duty by serving as a Poll Watcher and Manager for decades. He was known for his outgoing personality, his charm, and his love of people and animals. He enjoyed getting to know other dog lovers on his afternoon strolls to the dog park with Carolina, his beloved Boykin Spaniel.

Ricky never met a stranger and always made people feel welcomed wherever he was. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his daughter, Dorothy H. Lancaster (Gregg); son, Richard W. Hanckel IV; three grandchildren, Mary Kathryn Lancaster, Anne Hanckel Lancaster, and Palmer Gregory Lancaster, all of Charleston; and brother, Chris Hanckel (Margaret) of Hyde Park, New York. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Anne Hanckel, and two sisters, Judith H. Middleton and Ellen Jervey Hanckel.

Memorials may be made to St. Philip's Church, 142 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401.