Cover photo for Lou Ray Wilhelm Etchison's Obituary
Lou Ray Wilhelm Etchison Profile Photo

Lou Ray Wilhelm Etchison

June 30, 1931 — December 19, 2024

Lewisville Chapel

Lou Ray Wilhelm Etchison

Lou Ray Wilhelm Etchison passed away peacefully early Thursday morning December 19, 2024 at her home on Lasater Road in Clemmons. She was 93 years old. Lou Ray was born in the midst of the Great Depression on June 30, 1931, in East Bend, North Carolina. Her parents were James Roy Wilhelm and Mamie Velma Perry Wilhelm. She was the second of four children. She is survived by her daughter, Rachel Ann Etchison Yancey and husband, Wayne Russum Yancey, of Clemmons; a grandson, Daniel Gray Yancey, and wife Dr. Katherine Habenicht Yancey of Athens, Georgia; a granddaughter, Sarah Ann Yancey Vance, DPT and husband Kenneth W. Vance, Jr. of East Bend, North Carolina; a brother, Jim Wilhelm and wife Florence Wilhelm of Winston-Salem; and five adorable great grandchildren, all under the age of five. Lou Ray was preceded in death by an older brother, Billy Perry Wilhelm, and a younger sister, Nell Gray Wilhelm Dinkins. She graduated from East Bend High School in 1949. She received a BS in Elementary Education from Appalachian State Teachers College in 1953. By attending night school and summer classes, she earned her Masters in Education from Greensboro Women’s College in 1955. As a young woman she worked the night shift at RJ Reynolds tobacco company during the summers and helped her parents with their tobacco crops. She began her 38 ½ year teaching career at City View, now Petree School and taught 40 children her first year. She was a strict disciplinarian but underneath she had a heart of gold. The majority of her career was spent teaching fourth grade at South Fork Elementary school. When she retired in 1991, she continued teaching by helping her two grandchildren with their homework. She always stressed the importance of education and was a golden sister (50-year member) of the teaching sorority, Alpha Delta Kappa, ADK. Lou Ray loved her family. She was devoted to her parents and siblings. She enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She married Eugene Gray Etchison on August 20, 1955, and they lived together for 62 years on their farm in Clemmons. She and Gray were members of Union Hill Baptist Church, where she served on the Finance committee and helped in the nursery. She enjoyed planning family parties and especially loved the Christmas Season. She was a generous gift giver. The family will receive friends from 10am to 11am on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Union Hill Baptist Church. Rev Christopher Burcham will officiate the funeral service following the visitation with the burial at the church cemetery. Memorials can be made to Union Hill Baptist Church, 8494 Lasater Road, Clemmons, NC 27012. Condolences can be made at www.hayworth-miller.com

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Today's Services

Funeral Service

Saturday, December 21, 2024

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Union Hill Baptist Church

8494 Lasater Rd, Clemmons, NC 27012

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Visitation

Saturday, December 21, 2024

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Union Hill Baptist Church

8494 Lasater Rd, Clemmons, NC 27012

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