Ray Lybrand

Mr. Ray P. Lybrand, husband of the late Edna S. Lybrand, died January 8, 2012 in Maryville, Tennessee. Mr. Lybrand was 93 years old having been born on September 9, 1918 in Lexington County, South Carolina. He was the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. George Lybrand. Ray was a graduate of Spartanburg Methodist College and had attended the University of S.C. in Columbia. In 1941, after his return from four years of active military duty in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Ray began a 37 year career with J.C. Penney Co. The last eighteen of those years saw him as a manager in stores located in Lancaster, SC, Lumberton and Albemarle, NC and Mt. Sterling, KY. Ray was always very active in the Lutheran church. He was a member of First Lutheran here in Albemarle for many years. He enjoyed and was responsible for founding and organizing three mission Lutheran churches. They were Atonement in Wilkesboro, NC, St. Paul Lutheran in Maryville, TN and Good Shepherd in Gainsville, GA. During his years working in retail, serving in the community or in his church, Ray was known as a man of strong conviction and character who understood and demonstrated kindness, humility and integrity. Funeral services will be at First Lutheran Church, Friday, January 13 at 10:00 AM with the Rev. John Futterer officiating. Burial will follow in Stanly Gardens of Memory. Military rites will be conducted by the Stanly County DAV. Ray is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Geray and Sandy Lybrand of 3414 Sevierville Rd., Maryville, TN. He is also survived by his granddaughter Amy Easley, her husband Jessee and their four children Sara, Hannah, Jacob and Rebekah. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Lybrand family.