John Angle

John Lawrence Angle, 64, departed this life suddenly on Thursday, October 21, 2021 while enjoying a beach vacation in Pine Knoll Shores, NC with his beloved wife Laura.

John was born to the late Robert Bruce Angle and Claire Frank Angle Merritt of Mt. Airy, NC on October 19, 1957 in Würzburg, Germany. After returning to the states, John was a lifelong North Carolina resident, calling Winston Salem home for the last 38 years.

John attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with a BA in English and Religion in 1980. A brilliant and voracious reader of everything from Tolkien to Dostoevsky, John most loved being a humble student of God’s Word. As his family, friends, and church community can attest, he lovingly lived out the biblical admonition from James 1:22 to “be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.” A patient, tender man with the heart of a servant, John never met a stranger, seeing in them the “imago Dei,” the image of God. When he hugged you, you felt it in your bones. He had a wide, warm smile and a loud, easy laugh, and he shared both generously. You rarely caught sight of him without his signature suspenders and the old Croakies he counted on daily to keep from losing his glasses.

For over 25 years, John served as groundskeeper for Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Redeemer School in Winston Salem, in addition to being a vital part of the church family as a deacon and lifelong member. (It was also where he met his sweet wife Laura!) Redeemer defines itself as “a worshipping community that exists to be transformed by God’s grace into faithful servants of all,” and John was a magnificent ambassador of that calling. He cared as tenderly for the students, staff, and fellow members and visitors as he did for the wide variety of plants and flowers that grace the Redeemer campus and flourished under his care. As a Master Gardener, John loved sharing the Latin names and minute details about anything green and growing with both the young and the old. He could find a way to see the beauty and potential in the tiniest, weakest plant, and nurture it along into something splendid. He was that way with people, too.

Along with gardening and reading, John loved to watch British mystery shows with his wife, soak up the sun and fish at the beach, and spend long hours creating and enjoying natural beauty in his backyard paradise. John loved being a father to his three beautiful children and never failed to tell them how much he loved them and how proud he was of each of them. John treasured spending time with his kids, always fully present and content to engage in any activity or interest that captivated their hearts, from infancy into adulthood. He loved staying up late watching movies with Timothy, working on crossword puzzles and drinking coffee with Hannah, and cheering for his UNC Tar Heels with Sarah. He was so delighted to welcome Leslie into the family as Timothy’s wife and another daughter to love. John was a marvelous listener, giving whomever he was with ample time to speak, nodding vehemently as he leaned in. Most of all, John loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and trusted him completely as the Shepherd and Overseer of his soul.

John was preceded in death by his father Robert Bruce Angle. He is survived by his dear wife of 32 years Laura Willet Angle; mother Claire Frank Angle Merritt of Mt. Airy, NC; beloved son Timothy and daughter-in-law Leslie; treasured daughters Hannah and Sarah; brother Robert and wife Emily of Boone, NC; brother Steven and wife Christy; sister Sarah Gillett and husband Andrew; and a multitude of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews whom he loved dearly.

A memorial service to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for John’s beautiful life and the promise of the resurrection will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 10:00 am on the grounds of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Winston Salem. In honor of John’s love for learning and gardening, check donations can be made to Redeemer School for the “Chrysalis Fund” or to Redeemer Church for the “Angle Beautification Fund,” which will go towards ongoing beautification of the church grounds, including a future memorial garden for prayer and meditation. For loved ones unable to attend in person, a livestream of the service will be available.

For more information regarding the service/donations, please visit: https://redeemerws.org/event/memorial-service/