Lawrence Grayson Venable

Gentleman, Officer, husband and Dad, Lawrence “Grayson” Venable, 88, departed this earth on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at High Point Regional Hospital. Mr. Venable had been in declining health for the last three years with Parkinson Disease.

Mr. Venable was born on September 18, 1923 in High Point, the son of Dillard and Della Venable. He began his business career at the young age of 12, delivering papers and later at the age of 18, became the manager of Mann Drug Soda Fountain. He married his loving wife, Ruby Elizabeth Gurley at the age of 17 in 1941.

Shortly after, Mr. Venable was called to serve his country with the US Army. He was asked if he would volunteer for the Army Air Corp, today the Air Force. He was sent to NC State University for cadet training and in two years, graduated as a Second Lieutenant. Grayson said he was always “Proud” to serve and “wore his uniform with pride. He piloted B-24 bombers.

When his daughter, Cheryl was born, he and his crew “buzzed “ his mother-in-laws home with his wife holding the infant, Cheryl Ann, so that he could have his first look at his new daughter. His second daughter, Vicki Paige was born after Grayson left active duty. When Korea became a hot spot, he left the Reserves because he had a family to support. Grayson retired from Green Ford as Service Manager and Body Shop Manager after 16 years of service. Grayson’s favorite hobby was repairing “anything” with or without a motor and became the family and neighborhood “Mr. Fix-It.”

Grayson was preceded in death by his loving wife Ruby; brothers, Cleo Venable and Spofford Venable. Surviving are his daughters, Cheryl Wrenn and Vicki White, both of Greensboro and grandsons; Robert W. Wrenn and David M. White.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, 3:00 p.m. at Hanes Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel and burial will follow with full military honors at Guilford Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Sunday at Hanes Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel.

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4200 Morganton Road, Suite 300, Fayetteville, NC 28314 of Carolina Field of Honor, 6106 W. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27409