George Earl Lyndon Jr., 92, died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center.
He was born March 13, 1927, to George Earl Lyndon Sr. and Annie Shaw Lyndon. He attended the Thomasville City Schools and then graduated from Brevard College, High Point College (now High Point University) and Duke University. George served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the Destroyer USS Sperry. In 1945, he married his college sweetheart, Billie Hancock, who became his devoted wife for 74 years.
Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, are one son, Michael, and a sister, Betty Lyndon Gordon.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are daughter, Kimberly Lyndon Moore, and her husband, Jay; four grandchildren, Sarah Moore Iandoli, and her husband, David, Michael Moore, and his wife, Marcy, and Thomas and Daniel Moore of the home: two great-grandchildren Isabella Iandoli and Mallory Moore. Also surviving are his brother, Bob S. Lyndon, and his wife, Gayle, of Kernersville; and many well-loved nieces, nephews and cousins.
George was a minister of the United Methodist Church in the Western North Carolina Conference for 22 years, during which he served as senior pastor in several churches of the conference, and also served as director of Radio and Television Ministries, including a long-running and popular Sunday evening radio program, “The Word-And Music.” He co-sponsored a United Methodist Medical Mission to Africa that covered remote areas of six African countries. Upon returning from the month-long mission, he spoke in dozens of churches, civic groups and private schools, raising thousands and thousands of dollars in money, equipment, medicine and other supplies for those countries.
While still a minister, George became concerned about the lack of education or skills of many inmates in our prison system, and decided he might best serve within the Department of Correction. He accepted a position with that department, where he remained for 29 years until his retirement, being named through a governor’s appointment, special assistant to the secretary of the Department of Correction, and visiting every prison unit in the state, helping to set up vocational courses and classes in basic education.
Many inmates earned their GEDs and attended college to become productive citizens. Even after his retirement, he still received calls and letters of gratitude from former inmates. Because of the valuable and tireless work in his field, George was awarded by Governor Jim Hunt the highest civilian honor a governor bestows, “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.” Upon George’s retirement at the age of 77, Governor Mike Easley took a very unusual step in naming him a second time to the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” in affirmation of the remarkable accomplishments of George. He loved his work, but most of all, he loved God and his family.
A celebration of life will be held 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 27, at Grace United Methodist Church, Wilmington, with a reception to follow in the gathering area.
Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
