Mr. Samuel Ray Buie

Mr. Samuel Ray Buie, 93, of Salisbury, NC passed away Wednesday, December 04, 2013 at Autumn Care of Salisbury. Born April 29, 1920 in Rowan County, NC to the late Clarence F. and Willa Weant Buie, he was a graduate of Spencer High School. Ray attended Mars Hill College and Baltimore Polytechnical Institute of Blue Print Reading. He graduated from the national Radio TV Institute in Washington, DC. Ray worked for Glen L. Martin Aircraft building war planes from 1941-1944 as an Electrical Tester and Air Raid Warden in Baltimore, MD. He was a working leader building a trainer to diagnose troubles in the electrical systems of the aircraft. On February 13, 1943 he married Margaret Ritchie at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Margaret preceded him in death on May 3, 2013. Margaret also worked for Martin with blue prints of the Flying Wing that was later the Stealth Bomber. In 1944 Ray went into the Army for two years in the infantry and later at headquarters at Fort McLellan. He was discharged in 1946 with rank of Sergeant and returned to Salisbury. He was offered his job back but it had been moved to Florida with the space program. He was hired with Southern Bell Telephone Company as Test Deskman and resigned his job in Florida. Ray retired from Southern Bell Telephone Company in Winston Salem after 36 years. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where he served on the church council, the resource committee, as Secretary of the Fisher Sunday school class, and as head usher. He and Margaret served on the Alter committee preparing Communion and was one of the first to receive the Silent Angel Award. Ray was a 32nd degree mason for 67 years and had a lifetime membership in Fulton Lodge 99. He was a life member in Scottish Rite Masons and Oasis Shrine in Charlotte and past member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and life member and past Commander of AMVET Post 565. He served as Chairman of NC Community Committee and on the National AMVET Committee for Defense and Foreign Relations, Resolutions, and Constitution and Bylaw Committee. He also served on the City of Salisbury Recreation Commission. Ray served as President of the Granite Quarry Little League and served as President of Oakland Heights Park. He served on the Board of Directors of Jacob’s Creek Stone Co. and was past President of Sapona Investment Club. Preceding him in death was his grandson Brian W. Jones. Ray and Margaret have three children left to cherish their memory: daughters: Glenda Margaret Jones and Barbara Anne Heilig both of Charlotte, NC and son, Bradford Ray Buie and wife Bonnie L. of Roanoke, VA; three grandchildren: Erin L. Holben and husband Andrew, Lauren P. McClure and husband Mitch and Brandon L. Altieri; and three great-grandchildren: Joshua F. Holben, Audrey E. Holben and Luke Holben. He loved playing golf with his family and called it “Beat Your Father Tournament.” He also loved fishing, beach vacations and gardening. He and Margaret traveled to all 50 states mostly by car, but also took several cruises. His favorite Bible verse was “Prayer is the way to Heaven but faith unlocks the door.” Visitation will be held from 1-2PM Monday (Dec. 9) at St. John’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. The funeral service will be 2 PM Monday (Dec. 9) at St. John’s Lutheran Church, conducted by Rev. Rhodes Woolly. Burial will follow at Oakdale Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144 or Nazareth Children’s Home, PO Box 1438. Rockwell, NC 28138. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Buie family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Mr. Samuel Ray Buie

April 29, 1920 - December 4, 2013