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Ronald Gray “Ronnie” Lawhorne

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Ronald Gray “Ronnie” Lawhorne

Birth
Lynchburg City, Virginia, USA
Death
15 Sep 2010 (aged 76)
Farmville, Prince Edward County, Virginia, USA
Burial
Farmville, Prince Edward County, Virginia, USA Add to Map
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Ronald Gray "Ronnie" Lawhorne

Ronald Gray "Ronnie" Lawhorne, of Farmville, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. He was born in Lynchburg on Aug. 28, 1934, to Clarence Wiley and Lula Allen Lawhorne and moved to Farmville at age four. He loved growing up in Farmville and told many wonderful stories about "the good old days." As a teenager, he worked at The Farmer's Supply and lifeguarded at Goodwin Lake.

Ronnie graduated from Farmville High School in 1953, served in the National Guard and attended Virginia Tech, where he played in the Highty Tighties, until he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Washington and Alaska. He played the trombone in the Army Band and when Alaska became a state in 1959, he played for the inauguration of the first governor. While finishing school at RPI (VCU) with a B.S. Degree in Business, he worked for Liggett Myers Tobacco Co. in Marketing and for H&R Block. From 1963 to 1967, he worked as Assistant Business Manager, then Business Manager, at Longwood College. He was the Vice President of Finance and Business Manager for Hampden-Sydney College from 1967 to 1978. He later obtained his realtor's license and worked with Longwood Realty, then opened Virginia Realty in Farmville. He also managed Wedgewood Country Club, Rose's and Pegasus Auto Rentals. After retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his buddies at East End Chevron.

Ronnie was a member of the Farmville United Methodist Church for 72 years, where he sang in the choir for many years. He was a Past President and Lifetime Member of the Farmville Jaycees, Vice President of the Virginia Jaycees, and he received the Distinguished Service Award for his volunteer work and unselfish commitment to his community. He was a founding Board Member and Treasurer of Wedgewood Country Club, an Honorary Deputy for Prince Edward County and a brother in SAE Fraternity.

Ronnie loved the game of golf and enjoyed teaching his children and grandsons the rules and etiquette of the game. He enjoyed telling golf stories and was especially proud of his Hole-In-One on #9 at Wedgewood. He was a very good athlete, played football and baseball and was on a state championship basketball team in high school. He was a loyal Redskins fan, a Dodgers fan and a UVA fan. Ronnie was an avid photographer and loved music he was a talented self-taught trombone, clarinet, banjo, bass, ukulele and harmonica player. He had a beautiful voice and loved to sing.

Ronnie was a thoughtful, loyal and good friend. He had a generous heart and was always ready to help a family member or friend in need. He had a sharp wit and loved to laugh. He was so easy to talk to, and he made people feel special. He will be greatly missed.

Ronnie is survived by his wife, Rita Weinberg Lawhorne; a daughter, Judy L. Ellington, and husband, Johnny; a son, David Allen Lawhorne; grandsons, Trey Grayson Ellington and Jason Taylor Ellington, all of Farmville; a sister, Barbara L. Hawkins, of Richmond; a brother, C. W. Lawhorne Jr., and wife, Margaret (Monnie), of Lynchburg; a sister-in-law, Frances Lawhorne, of Lynchburg; and many special nieces and nephews.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Maurice T. Lawhorne; and two sisters, Mildred L. Morton and Kathleen L. Holland.

There will be a visitation at from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at Puckett Funeral Home and a funeral service will be held at the Farmville United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, with interment to follow at Westview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Farmville United Methodist Church or Hospice of Virginia. Puckett Funeral Home of Farmville is handling the arrangements.

Published in The News & Advance on September 17, 2010
Ronald Gray "Ronnie" Lawhorne

Ronald Gray "Ronnie" Lawhorne, of Farmville, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. He was born in Lynchburg on Aug. 28, 1934, to Clarence Wiley and Lula Allen Lawhorne and moved to Farmville at age four. He loved growing up in Farmville and told many wonderful stories about "the good old days." As a teenager, he worked at The Farmer's Supply and lifeguarded at Goodwin Lake.

Ronnie graduated from Farmville High School in 1953, served in the National Guard and attended Virginia Tech, where he played in the Highty Tighties, until he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Washington and Alaska. He played the trombone in the Army Band and when Alaska became a state in 1959, he played for the inauguration of the first governor. While finishing school at RPI (VCU) with a B.S. Degree in Business, he worked for Liggett Myers Tobacco Co. in Marketing and for H&R Block. From 1963 to 1967, he worked as Assistant Business Manager, then Business Manager, at Longwood College. He was the Vice President of Finance and Business Manager for Hampden-Sydney College from 1967 to 1978. He later obtained his realtor's license and worked with Longwood Realty, then opened Virginia Realty in Farmville. He also managed Wedgewood Country Club, Rose's and Pegasus Auto Rentals. After retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his buddies at East End Chevron.

Ronnie was a member of the Farmville United Methodist Church for 72 years, where he sang in the choir for many years. He was a Past President and Lifetime Member of the Farmville Jaycees, Vice President of the Virginia Jaycees, and he received the Distinguished Service Award for his volunteer work and unselfish commitment to his community. He was a founding Board Member and Treasurer of Wedgewood Country Club, an Honorary Deputy for Prince Edward County and a brother in SAE Fraternity.

Ronnie loved the game of golf and enjoyed teaching his children and grandsons the rules and etiquette of the game. He enjoyed telling golf stories and was especially proud of his Hole-In-One on #9 at Wedgewood. He was a very good athlete, played football and baseball and was on a state championship basketball team in high school. He was a loyal Redskins fan, a Dodgers fan and a UVA fan. Ronnie was an avid photographer and loved music he was a talented self-taught trombone, clarinet, banjo, bass, ukulele and harmonica player. He had a beautiful voice and loved to sing.

Ronnie was a thoughtful, loyal and good friend. He had a generous heart and was always ready to help a family member or friend in need. He had a sharp wit and loved to laugh. He was so easy to talk to, and he made people feel special. He will be greatly missed.

Ronnie is survived by his wife, Rita Weinberg Lawhorne; a daughter, Judy L. Ellington, and husband, Johnny; a son, David Allen Lawhorne; grandsons, Trey Grayson Ellington and Jason Taylor Ellington, all of Farmville; a sister, Barbara L. Hawkins, of Richmond; a brother, C. W. Lawhorne Jr., and wife, Margaret (Monnie), of Lynchburg; a sister-in-law, Frances Lawhorne, of Lynchburg; and many special nieces and nephews.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Maurice T. Lawhorne; and two sisters, Mildred L. Morton and Kathleen L. Holland.

There will be a visitation at from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at Puckett Funeral Home and a funeral service will be held at the Farmville United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, with interment to follow at Westview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Farmville United Methodist Church or Hospice of Virginia. Puckett Funeral Home of Farmville is handling the arrangements.

Published in The News & Advance on September 17, 2010


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