The Biddix estate auction was sentimental and somewhat different than some...

Auctioneers Barry Ruppe (Ace Auction) and Keith Norville (Norville Auction & Real Estate) working together at a recent auction. Jan B. Cook Photo.

When auctioneers Barry Ruppe (Ace Auction Company, LLC) and Keith Norville, (Norville Auction & Real Estate) worked together last Saturday at the estate auction of Ed and Reva Biddix in Rutherfordton, "it was a little bit different," than some auctions, Ruppe explained.

It was sentimental for Ruppe who knew the family and went to school with one of the Biddix daughters (daughter Lisa now lives in Asheboro and Linda lives in Greenville, NC).

Another difference in the estate auction was many of the items to be auctioned were at their Chimney Rock Road, Rutherfordton home, while other items had to be hauled from the Biddix farm in Marion to Rutherford County.

Ruppe and others would travel to Marion to get the items ready and then transport them to Rutherfordton in preparation for last Saturday's auction.

During the process, Lisa and Linda, made several trips back to Rutherford County to assist with the auction.

Although not unusual and knowing the Biddix estate auction would be lengthy, Ruppe asked auctioneer Keith Norville to assist him.

Ruppe obtained his auctioneer license while working with Norville as an apprentice.

"Anytime you have an auction that's going to last six hours you need an assistant so I asked Keith," Ruppe said.

The average auction, from the time you sign a contract until the day of the auction, usually takes approximately 100 man hours, Ruppe explained.

Ruppe said he's accustomed to selling all types of equipment, home decor and other things auctions, but one of the neatest things auctioned on Saturday were the soil testing kits and test tubes owned by Mr. Biddix.

"That was an oddity, something you don't see every day," Ruppe said.

"We had a good time Saturday," Ruppe said, adding they had to dodge a few rain showers and keep things covered to keep them dry.

"Rutherford County was so blessed to have had these people here," Ruppe said of Ed and Reva Biddix.

Mr. Biddix was the Rutherford County Agriculture Extension Agent for many years and Reva was a teacher at Rutherfordton Elementary School and New Hope Jr. High.

The couple died in August 2022 just days apart.