Lamkin, Virgil R. (Ray)

Born Jan 09, 1940
Died Apr 01, 2005

From 2006 Annual Show Program:

That Old Gang of Mine . . .

     One of the aspects of singing with a barbershop chorus is the fellowship that we experience through the weekly meetings and the times that we perform for others. Memories of those fellow singers who have died become more vivid at the occasion of our annual show in the spring. In the last year - just before our 2005 show - two former members passed away. (Leo Applebaum was the other member)

     Raye Lamkin has not sung with us for several years because of health concerns but that did not diminish his love for barbershop music. He continued to support our chapter in any way he could and kept in touch with area barbershoppers. Despite his health problems, Raye continued to maintain his full time job while others would have given up. In the years that he sang with our chapter, he was a mainstay in the bass section and was usually the first to know his part without the music. Raye was a mater-of-fact kind of guy and you could always depend on him to do things right - which is the way he lived his life.

     We honor all the memories of these and others who have sung with us as we go on stage this evening. Their lives have touched ours with close harmony of song and with their friendship.

     In the words of the old song, "You'll always be part of that old gang of mine."