Troy Lee Church, 97

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Obit Troy Lee ChurchNorthborough – Troy Lee Church, 97, died of natural causes at Beaumont of Northborough Monday, Aug. 12, 2013.

He was the middle son of Walter and Lucretia Church, born Aug. 16, 1915. The family lived on and worked the Shaffner farm (now the site of Shaffner Park off Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, N.C.), and later moved to Robinhood Road.

He is survived by his only child, Wesley Keith Church and his family, wife Ellen, son Alexander, and daughter Allyson. Wesley and his family live in Northborough. Mr. Church was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 58 years, Elizabeth Shields Church, and his three siblings, Francis Church, Margaret Lescault, and Clifton Church, all of Winston-Salem, N.C.

Mr. Church grew up on a farm, then enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was trained as an aircraft sheet metal mechanic, and served in the European theatre of war. After the war, he joined Briggs-Shaffner, an aluminum products company, in Winston-Salem, N.C. He retired in 1986, after nearly 40 years with the company.

A lifelong member of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church, he served as a Boy Scout leader, a Sunday School teacher, and longtime usher and greeter.

Mr. Church was well known throughout the southeast for his restored 1860s cannon, with which he travelled to a large number of Civil War re-enactments during the Civil War Centenary. In addition to travelling with his family, he was accompanied by George Hill and Alvin Church (no relation), both of Winston-Salem, forming “Church's Battery of the North Carolina 9th Artillery.” In addition to re-enactments, he fired the cannon for numerous public events around North Carolina, as well as on his property on Robinhood Road for 4th of July celebrations.

Funeral services and burial will be held in Winston-Salem, N.C. Donations to the American Red Cross in lieu of flowers are welcomed.

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