Lawrence Pugh Zachary Jr.

Today, Lawrence Pugh Zachary, Jr. has a healthy body and a clear mind. He has met his Lord and Savior face-to-face, and has been reunited with his son, Larry. “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15, vs. 55

Lawrence Pugh Zachary, Jr., known as Zach to his friends and L.P. to some of his family, passed away on June 4, 2013 at The Stewart Health Center in Raleigh, N.C. Zach was born on September 2, 1921 to the late Lawrence Pugh Zachary and Christine Tatum Zachary in the small town of Cooleeme, but grew up in Taylorsville, N.C. He was the oldest of four children. After graduation from high school in 1932, he entered North Carolina State University, where he spent four years studying chemical engineering. Before he could graduate, he was called to serve our country in the United States Army. Upon receiving his orders, he asked the love of his life, Pat Fetzer, to become his wife. They were married in the First Baptist Church in Raleigh on June 21, 1942. Within a year, Zach was sent overseas to fight in WW11. He served for 2 ½ years in the Philippines, New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies. At the time of his discharge in 1946, he held the rank of Captain and had received many awards for his service, including the Bronze Star for combat on Moratai. Zach returned to Wadesboro, N.C. on Dec. 23, 1945 to be reunited with his bride, Pat Fetzer Zachary.

In Wadesboro, Zach entered into the hardware business before starting his own heating and air conditioning business, in addition to his appliance sales and service business. While in business, Zach started the Anson County Veterans Service Office in 1946, and the Wadesboro Merchants Association in 1947. He was a member of First Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School for 19 years. He was a member of the Rotary Club, where he served as President. In 1962, Zach was appointed Anson County Manager. He was the first person to serve as a manager in Anson County.

In 1967, Zach and his family moved to Raleigh. In Raleigh, he was Assistant Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of City and County Managers Association. In 1968, Zach was appointed Assistant City Manager of Raleigh and in 1973, he was appointed City Manager of Raleigh. Zach served as City Manager of Raleigh until his retirement in 1983. In addition to being City Manager, Zach served on the board of directors of The Raleigh Little Theater, the board of directors of the Rotary Club, and was Secretary /Treasurer of the City-County Managers. While in Raleigh, Zach was a member of Highland United Methodist Church, The NC State Wolfpack Club, The Good ol’ Boys Club, and the Raleigh Rotary Club. He was an avid golfer and was proud to shoot his age at least once every year until his mid 80’s. After retirement, Zach and Pat spent every summer in the mountains of North Carolina. They enjoyed their home on Crystal Mountain for many years before buying a condo at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock. While in Blowing Rock, Zach and his family were “summer members” of Blowing Rock Methodist Church.

Lawrence (Zach) Zachary is survived by his loving wife, Pat, to whom he has been married for almost 71 years; his daughter, Catherine Tatum Zachary of Willow Spring, N.C.; a sister, Christine Gilbert of Cary and a brother Sam Zachary, of Winston-Salem. He was predeceased by his son, Larry Zachary, his sister, Lillian Brookshire, and his brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Ella Fetzer. Zach is also survived by many nieces and nephews, several cousins and countless friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Lawrence Fetzer Zachary Memorial Scholarship Fund C/O Campbell University, P.O. Box 116, Buies Creek, N.C. 27506. This scholarship is in memory of their son, Larry, who graduated from Campbell University.

The Zachary Family would like to thank Springmoor Life Care Center and The Stewart Health Center for the wonderful care they gave Zach, as well as the care and support they gave to Pat and Cathy. We would also like to thank Hospice of Wake County for their care and support during this difficult time. There are truly angels among us!

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at Highland United Methodist Church on Friday, June 7, 2013 at 2:00 P.M., with visitation at the church immediately following the service. Interment for family and close friends will be held at 1:00 P.M. at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC.

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on St. Mary’s Street, under the direction of Mark Blake, will be handling the arrangements.