Rev. Ray Woodby

Rev. Lawrence Raymond Woodby, 82, of Asheville, went to be with his Lord Jesus, Saturday, September 17, 2011 at Charles George VA Medical Center. He was a native of Buncombe County and resident most of his life. He was the son of the late William Woodby and Helen Melton Woodby Little and was also preceded in death by his step-father, Godfrey Little. Rev. Woodby was the former Pastor of Oakley Gospel Tabernacle after 32 years of service and currently with New Horizons Worldwide Ministries. He was an U.S. Navy Veteran during the Korean War where he was stationed in China for a portion. He was a Chaplain with the Asheville Police Department from 1983 to present and organized the Chaplaincy Program with Buncombe County Sheriff's Department. He was a member, Chaplain and past president of the WNC Pilots Association, former member and past president of the Biltmore Kiwanis Club, member and Chaplain of the Civil Air Patrol and Chaplain with St. Joseph's Hospital. Surviving are his daughter, Debra Woodby, son, Rev. Michael Woodby and wife, Janis, granddaughters, Shannon Reese and husband, Brandon, Erin Bowser and husband, Dan and Amanda Roach and husband, Adam, great granddaughter, Lindsay Bowser, sister, Billie Marie Panhorst and brother, Thomas Little and wife, Margaret, nieces, Cindi Waytt and Jennifer Hofman and nephew, Andrew Little. Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Wednesday, September 21 in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with Drs. John and Rebecca Polis officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by The Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team. The family will receive friends from 12 to 2 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to, Gideon's International.