CONCORD — Ray Adam Cline, 84, Concord, died Dec. 11, 2006, at NorthEast Medical Center.

Mr. Cline lived on the Cabarrus County farm where he was born Aug. 30, 1922, a son of the late J. Paul and Bessie Fink Cline.

A 1940 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, he worked in the grocery business for two years and then at Cannon Mills in the cotton class room.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, flying in B-17 and B-29 bombers.

He attended North Carolina State University and taught in the Veterans Farm Training Program at Mount Pleasant and Winecoff schools from 1946 to 1952. He became a part-time agent for Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance in 1952 and was appointed Cabarrus County tax collector from 1953 to 1956.

In 1956, he joined Lutheran Brotherhood full time, and two years later was appointed general agent for the state of North Carolina and helped develop one of the most successful agencies in the company. His agency was awarded Agency of the Year in 1973 and retired from Lutheran Brotherhood in 1985.

Mr. Cline served on many boards and agencies in the county and state.

A member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, he served on the church council and taught Sunday School for 40 years. He was elected president of the state Luther League in 1948 and president of the National Luther League of America in 1950 and 1951. He served on many boards in the N.C. Synod, including N.C. Lutheran Homes, Lutheran Southern Seminary and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries.

He was a member of St. John’s Grange and N.C. State Grange, which he served as chaplain for 25 years.

His wife, Adelaide Ridenhour, a former teacher at Mount Pleasant High School whom he were married Aug. 5, 1950, died Oct. 5, 2006.

Survivors include son Donald Ray Cline, Concord; daughter Anne Cline Johnson, Fort Mill, S.C.; sister Doris Wade, Concord; brother Ned Cline, Greensboro; and two grandchildren.

A service was held Saturday (Dec. 16, 2006) St. John’s Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Mark Ericson, pastor; the Rev. Ted Goins; and the Rev. Donald Deal.

Hartsell Funeral Home was in charge. Online condolences may be left at www.hartsellfh.com.

Memorials: St. John’s Lutheran Church, Heritage Building Fund, 100 St. John’s Church Road, Concord, NC 28025 or donor’s choice.