Richard Lashely, Sr.

Richard Alfred Lashley, Sr., 86, passed gently into the arms of Jesus on August 30, 2018 at his home. He was surrounded by his family and by the love that they hold for him.
Richard was a man who had three great loves-love for his God, his family, and his country.
After serving honorably and proudly in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman First Class, he enrolled at Elon College in 1955. It was there that he met his future wife, Linda Simpson, in freshman English class. They were inseparable from that moment on, marrying in June 1959 after graduating from Elon in May of that year. The two have shared a deep and abiding love story spanning more than 60 years.
Richard treasured his roles as husband, father, grandfather, uncle, son, brother, son-in-law and brother-in-law. For him, life was about family. He also prioritized his relationship with God, serving for decades as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, choir member, and committee member at Bethlehem Christian Church in Altamahaw, NC. During recent years, as a member of St. Mark's Church in Burlington, he continued to serve the Lord and nurture his faith by serving as a small group leader and using his resonant baritone voice with Voices of Grace-a music ministry focused on serving healthcare facilities in the surrounding area.
Before retiring, Richard worked for more than four decades in human resources at Kayser-Roth Corporation. Afterward, he found great joy in having more time to do things that made life easier for his family.
An avid Elon fan, Richard followed the Fightin' Christians and then the Phoenix throughout his life. And he kept a constant eye on the growth of his beloved school, watching all of the construction projects and other expansions through every phase. He was always proud to be an Elon graduate.
A legacy of sweet memories is the gift Richard leaves his family and all of those he loved-memories that will always be treasured.
Richard is survived by his wife, Linda Simpson Lashley; son, Rick Lashley (Katie); daughter, Michele Lashley; grandchildren, Lucas Lashley-Zimmerman and Summer Lashley; nephews and nieces (Lee Laws, Chad and Carly Laws, Celeste Bell, Lisa Stone, and Debra Jones); sisters-in-law (Patsy Laws and Jackie Alphin); and brothers-in-law (Tony Laws and Jay Alphin). He was preceded in death by his father, William Daniel Lashley, Sr.; his mother, Thala Collins Lashley; and his brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Mary Noel Lashley-all of Eden, NC.
A funeral service will be held at St. Mark's Church in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 1, 2018 by Rev. Ben Bishop, officiating. The burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors provided by the US Air Force.The family will receive friends from 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. in the sanctuary prior to the service. At other times, they will be at the home.
The family extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Hospice nurses and CNAs, as well as the Home Instead caregivers, who made it possible for Richard to stay comfortably in his home and who provided loving care to him and outstanding support to the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Richard's name may be made to the Hospice & Palliative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC, 27215.

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