Ray Linnens

BURLINGTON – Ray Walter Linnens, age 101, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 31, 2021 at his home. Born in Alamance County, he was the son of the late Iris Rowland and Mabel Lily Justice Linnens. Ray was married for over 77 years to the late Edith Newsome Linnens who died in January of this year.

Ray was a proud US Navy veteran serving three years as a Sailor on board the SS ESS Washington, SS George Williams, SS Powder River and at the Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, NY during World War II. He retired from LabCorp after fifteen years and before that worked in textiles for Standard Hosiery Mill and was a longtime member of St. Mark’s Church. Ray authored tow books “Three Sailors and a Ship” and “Seeing the Roaring Twenties Through the Eyes of an Elven-Year-Old Boy”.

Ray is survived by his daughter, Linda Fowler and husband, Ted, of Durham; two grandchildren, Melanie Fowler McFerrin and husband, Chris and John Fowler; two great grandchildren, Samuel Toth and Benjamin Ray Toth; several nieces, nephews and extended family and special friends, Jerome Naylor and David Naylor and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, George, Claude and Rowland Linnens and a sister, Annie Mae Linnens.

The Linnens family would like to extend a special thanks to all of her caregivers, especially Dava Singleton, Happier Days Private Duty Services, Authoracare Hospice, Morgan from Emcompass and Dr. Gilbert and his nurses and staff for the loving and kind care given to Ray over the last several years.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, November 5, 2021 at St. Mark’s Church by Rev. Bob Disher and Rev. Ben Bishop. Burial will follow with military honors by the US Navy in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the W.D. Hammer VFW Post 2972, Boonwood-Timbergate Dr., Gibsonville, NC 27249 or St. Mark’s Church, 1230 St. Mark’s Church Road, Burlington, NC 27215.