Wayne Elbert Raby

Born January 10, 1916  Died: July 29, 2004

RABY, Wayne E.
age 88, of Knoxville, passed away early Thursday morning, July 29, 2004, at Parkwest Medical Center, surrounded by his nieces, nephews and cousins, who were his family. Raby attended Marietta Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was active in the Truck Stop Ministry of Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a retired captain from the Tennessee Highway Patrol with 34 years of service. After his retirement, he worked for the City of Knoxville in Risk Management. Raby was a Yellow Dog Democrat and assisted Frank Clement in his campaign for governor. Gov. Clement made his first campaign speech at the Democratic Fish Fry that was held annually at the home of W. H. Raby. Raby was a veteran of World War II serving with the U.S. Army in the Battle of the Aleutian Islands. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Landon and Mary Newcomb Raby, Issac and Katherine Skinner Wheeler; parents, William and Adra Wheeler Raby; siblings and spouses, John and Willie Clabo Raby, Cliff and Lois Russell Raby, William Nelson and Norine Kelly Raby, Grace Raby Coker, Survivors include: wife of 55 years, Opal Prince Raby; brother-in-law, Fred Coker of Knoxville; nieces, Ruth Raby Ellis and Joyce Raby Hicks both of Florida, Carolyn Coker and Ann Coker Page, both of Knoxville; nephews, William Nelson Raby, Clifton Ronald Raby and Elliott Craig Raby all of Florida, John Edward Raby and Don Coker both of Knoxville; special friends, Evelyn and George Cooper, Carolyn and Max Brewer, Paul and Peggy Monger. The family received friends Friday in the Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel. Funeral services followed with the Rev. Leonard Turner and the Rev. Randall Mayfield officiating. Family and friends gathered Saturday at Pleasant Forest Cemetery for graveside services with the Rev. Kelly Negus and the Rev. Shannon Walls officiating. Pall bearers included, Ronald Raby, Craig Raby, Don Coker, David Page, Christopher Page, Taylor Coker and Matthew Coker. Honorary pall bearers were nieces, nephews, cousins and members of the Saturday Morning Breakfast Club, all retired Tennessee State Troopers.