Eugene Foster May

Mr. Eugene Foster May, 84, of Mount Airy, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday evening, May 23, 2007, at the Golden Living Center. He was born October 9, 1922, in Mathias, WV, to the late Grant and Lelia Strawderman May. He was an aviator in the United States Navy during World War II, serving in the South Pacific, and later was reactivated into the Navy to serve during the Korean War. Foster was in banking for 40 years, having served as executive vice president of the Fort Lauderdale National Bank in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and chief executive officer of Coral Springs National Bank in Coral Springs, FL. He and his wife moved to Mount Airy in 1981 to be closer to their family. Foster was very active in his First Baptist Church Sunday school class as secretary and coffee maker. He volunteered with Northern Hospital of Surry County, helping to establish the Life Line system. He was active in the DAV where he served as treasurer for several years. He was a volunteer driver taking veterans to their appointments. His wry sense of humor sustained him throughout his life and endeared him to his friends. He is survived by his wife, Helen Elaine VanWyk May of the home; two daughters and a son-in-law, Vicki May York of Mount Airy and Dottie M. and Mark Gunstra of Lafayette, IN; a son and daughter-in-law, James Robert and Cathy May of Bigelow, AR; five grandchildren, Garrison Toliver of Pilot Mountain, Matthew Gunstra of Fishers, IN, Alan York and fiance, Kyle McElveen of Winston-Salem, Lindsey Tyson and husband, Daniel, of Lafayette, IN, and Lauren May of Minneapolis, MN; a sister and brother-in-law, Kathryn and Bill Crownfield of Greensboro; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted by the Rev. John Ferree on Sunday, May 27, 2007, at 2:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy. Burial will follow at Skyline Memory Gardens, with full military rites conducted by the VFW Memorial Honor Guard Post 2019 of Mount Airy and Post 9436 of Pilot Mountain and Masonic rites by the Renfro Masonic Lodge #691 AF and AM. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:00 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Disabled American Veterans, 131 West Lebanon Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030, or to the Golden Living Center, 542 Allred Mill Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030.