Lionel Demming “L.D.” Bass Jr., known as “Rip” to family and friends, went to be with the Lord on October 3, 2017 in Charlotte, NC at the age of 81.

L.D. is survived by his wife, Nancy of Charlotte, NC; children Demming Bass of Marietta, GA and Meredith Bass Owens of Ocean Springs, MS; grandchildren Ashley, Reagan and Blake; sisters Rebecca Bass Kelly and Beverly Bass Casey; and 5 nieces and nephews.

L.D. was born on February 10, 1936 in Charlotte, NC to Lionel Demming Bass Sr. and Christian Henderson Bass. After serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid, he graduated from Presbyterian College in 1961 with a B.A. in Psychology and married Nancy Moody in 1964. His career included working for Retail Credit Company, N.C. Vocational Rehabilitation, and the American Thread Company. In 1975, he started the L.D. Bass, Jr. Nationwide Insurance Agency where he not only took pride in his business, but truly relished the friends he made during his 29 years in business. A highlight of his life was raising his two children where he taught them about the importance of faith, family, history, and hard work. His children remember him as a kind, patient and loving father who always encouraged them to pursue their goals, hopes, and dreams.
A lover of history since an early age, L.D. was also accomplished as a genealogist who often helped peer genealogists and people from around the world research their family trees. He was especially passionate about preserving Southern and Scottish history where he was a key figure in the founding and organizing of the Loch Norman Highland Games at Historic Rural Hill, the home of his ancestor, Major John Davidson. He was an active and dedicated member and elder of Hopewell Presbyterian Church where he taught Sunday School.

During the 1970s, L.D. was active in local and statewide politics serving on the Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and N.C. Executive Committee of the Republican Party where he also worked security for Ronald Reagan during his 1976 presidential run.

Actively involved in numerous historic preservation societies, he served as past president of the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society, Board Member of the Catawba Valley Scottish Society, Board Member of the Loch Norman Highland Games and Rural Hill Scottish Society, Commander of the Major Egbert Ross Camp of Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Commander of the Brig. General Rufus Barringer Chapter of the Military Order of the Stars and Bars.

The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 7 at James Funeral Home in Huntersville, N.C. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 8 at Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Huntersville. The burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Historic Rural Hill, P.O. Box 1009, Huntersville, N.C. 28070.