In Memory

Rodney Lorbacher

Rodney Lorbacher



 
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11/05/12 09:19 PM #1    

Deborah White (Cashwell)


Rodney A. Lorbacher
1945 - 2012
A MEMORIAL
Raleigh
Rodney A. Lorbacher was born January 27, 1945 and died April 27, 2012. He was a life-long native resident of Raleigh, N.C. His predeceased maternal grandparents were William Thompson Johnson and Evie Barnes Johnson.
Rodney experienced a lingering variety and series of personal health challenges during his latter years, yet he was cheerful and thoughtful of others more than for himself.
Rodney is survived by his beloved wife Teri, daughter Kathryn and son Matthew. His sister, Gennie Thurlow survives him. His older brother Fredrick and his parents, Alton G. Lorbacher and Dorothy Madge Johnson Lorbacher predeceased him.
Rodney came to know Christ as a child at home and as a youth he became dedicated to the Baptist Faith in the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Raleigh.
Rodney was a member of the Needham Broughton High School Class of 1963, and a 1967 graduate of East Carolina University. His youthful spirit was combined with an intelligent and mature mind.
He served with distinction during the Vietnam War in the Military Assistance Command in Long An Providence and in Tan An. He and his cousin Raleigh met in Saigon for several visits. Raleigh, Jr. also served his tour of duty in Vietnam valiantly.
Rodney was closely associated with his uncle Albert William Johnson, of Dobson & Johnson, Inc. ( DJI) of Nashville, Tennessee, as his mentor. His uncle's firm was reputed to be among the largest real estate and mortgage banking organizations of its kind in Nashville, Tennessee. Rodney continued to be actively identified with his uncle in various ventures throughout the remainder of Albert's life.
Rodney was Director of Development at the Raleigh Housing Developmentuntil October 1993.
Following his Housing Authority Employment Rodney became engaged as a principal with his uncle Albert in the real estate firm of Johnson & Lorbacher, Inc.
For relaxation Rodney chose boating. He spent happy hours on the large lakes around Raleigh and on the coastal waterways. Rodney's biography, and a historical description of his boat, was featured in a national magazine.
Rodney was principally engaged in real estate management in the Raleigh and Durham area at the time of his death. He also was the major factor in an advisory and consulting organization that he founded to help Vietnamese immigrants to own and operate their own business in the USA. He traveled back to Vietnam more than once to coordinate this endeavor.
Rodney, and his sister Gennie Thurlow, were the health and comfort caretakers for their aunt Francis Johnson Lanier of Raleigh during the final years of her life. They were aided by Frances' oldest son, Raleigh H. Lanier, Jr. of Nashville, TN. He was Rodney's best friend and pre-deceased him. A family book about Frances was dedicated to Rodney and Gennie in tribute to their loving dedication to Frances' quality of life.
Rodney was among the happiest in attendance at the Johnson family reunions held in Johnston County. Cousins Clara Raynor and Todd Johnson planned and arranged the reunions at Shiloh Baptist and Mt. Zion Methodist family churches.
Rodney is remembered as a loving husband, father and as a member of a large extended family of relatives. He was proud to acknowledge his maternal Johnson and paternal Lorbacher heritage. He was private by nature, yet his humanity was always in full view. He served his country in War, without flinching, and his family and his fellow man constantly thereafter.
This is a personal memorial and remembrance composed by Marshall H. Johnson, Rodney's uncle, based on personal knowledge and public information. The words that make up this memorial writing are not necessarily sanctioned by Teri or Gennie. Marshall H. Johnson acknowledges that he was so informed by Gennie, verbally, on June 14, 2012, after she received an earlier draft of this remembrance.


 

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