Edgar Rankin Lusby

Edgar Rankin Lusby died on August 2, 2023, at the age of 93. Born September 28, 1929, he was the son of the late Edgar Davis and Anne Elizabeth (Crow) Lusby. He was known as “Rankin” to avoid confusion with his father’s name. Rankin graduated in 1946 from the Chestertown High School, Kent County. During this period, he was very active in 4-H Club activities and named an All-Star member. He then helped to organize the first Younger Farmers’ group on the Eastern Shore and served on the national Young Farmers’ Committee of the American Farm Bureau Federation. In 1950, Rankin graduated from Washington College with a B.A. degree. He farmed with his father, with a primary interest of growing tomatoes for local canneries. Following the end of the Korean War, farm deferments ended and he was drafted in to the U.S. Army in August 1955. Leaving a field of tomatoes for only his father to tend, which he continued to bring up frequently through the years, he begrudgingly went off to basic training. He was first stationed in North Carolina where one of his duties was to perform a daily radio show -reading the news and playing music. In the middle of one of his shifts, his commanding officer burst in and began berating him for not being on the air. Rankin insisted he had been there the entire time when they realized he had not turned on the main power. The CO, so angry with him, had him transfer out – to a base in beautiful Hawaii. Rankin was assigned to an intelligence Unit at the U.S. Army Pacific Command Headquarters. During that period, he had a two-month assignment in Japan. This experience started his interest in visiting and learning about other cultures throughout the world. In 1958, he accepted the position of 4-H Agent in Garrett County where he enjoyed working with youth and learned to ski. To meet a two-year citizen military requirement, he served in the Garrett County National Guard from 1958 to 1960. As a member of St. Matthew Episcopal Church in Oakland, MD, he served as a Sunday School Teacher and a member of the vestry. He also joined the Oakland Rotary Club that started a life-long membership of service and leadership. For a number of years, he owned a farm in Pleasant Valley, Garrett County. On June 1, 1961, he accepted the staff position of Information Director with the Maryland Farm Bureau located at that time in Randallstown, MD. During his 11 years with the farmer organization, his positions included editor of the monthly Maryland Farm News, treasurer, and executive director. In 1966, at a Baltimore Ski Club event at The Belvedere in Baltimore City, he met Dorothy Carole Remlein, a nurse at Union Memorial Hospital. On September 4, 1970 they were married at Jerusalem Lutheran Church. In 1972 Rankin joined the staff of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in its Washington, DC, office and relocated to Crofton, MD. During his 23 years on the staff, his positions included editor of the weekly Farm Bureau News and Northeast Agriculture, and later as AFBF Publications Director. He also belonged to the National Press Club, Cooperative Editorial Association, American Agricultural Editors’ Association, Agricultural Relations Council, and the American Society of Association Executives. Following his retirement in 1995, he continued for nearly three years as editor of the Northeast Agriculture publication. During his 60+ years of Rotary International membership, he served many leadership positions including president of the Pikesville, Bowie-Crofton, and Crofton Rotary Clubs. After becoming a resident of Florida, he joined the Rotary Club of Naples Bay. Rotary provided the opportunity to participate in a family exchange to India and serve as the leader of group study exchange to Turkey. Both events provided the opportunity to stay in the homes of Rotary members and gain insights to the life in those countries. To him, Rotary meant service, fellowship, and an ever-continuing learning experience. As a member of St. Stephen’s Church in Crownsville, MD, he served as Sunday school teacher, a vestry member, and, along with his wife, a teller. Following retirement, Rankin managed the home farm in Kennedyville, MD, and cared for his parents until their deaths in 1999 and 2006. He also continued relationships with the Maryland Farm Bureau, his alma mater Washington College as a member of The 1782 Society, and Shrewsbury Church (Kent County). After a 2010 condo purchase in Naples, FL, the couple became ‘snowbirds’ during the winter months and in 2017 became residents of Florida. Rankin and Carole were avid dancers and always the first ones on the dance floor, no matter the event or music style. In the early 1980s, they even won a jitterbug contest. The prize was two NFL tickets. Rankin, never much of a sports fan, braved a frigid day at RFK stadium to take his son Kyle to his first football game. Rankin was also known to spontaneously burst into song. Two of his favorites were “You Are My Sunshine” (always sung to his wife) and “Mairzy Doats And Dozy Doats” (usually as Kim’s wakeup song). And, he always took the lead on “Happy Birthday.” Rankin’s hobbies included gardening, photography, and travel. He and Carole explored the world on cruises and land tours. Their adventures took them to all seven continents. Some notable trips through the years included visiting Egypt to see the pyramids and touring the Aswan Dam while under construction; being in Cuba just weeks before Castro came to power; ascending to Machu Picchu, a safari in Africa; walking the Great Wall of China; exploring the Lost City of Petra; as well as expeditions in New Zealand, Haiti, Russia, Thailand, Dubai, and most of Europe. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Carole; daughter, Kimberly Carole Lusby; son, Kyle Rankin Lusby and his wife Michelle and their children Lena Colette and Owen Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Elizabeth, and sister Betty Anne Kolodny. Services will be held on Thursday, August 10 at 11 a.m. at Shrewsbury Parish Church in Kennedyville, MD. Two visitations will be held the day prior - on Wednesday, August 9 at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown, MD, from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Edgar Rankin Lusby

September 28, 1929 - August 2, 2023