Troy Wayne Lankford of Rosman, North Carolina passed away at the age of 78 on Monday, May 16th, 2016 after a protracted illness. Mr. Lankford passed away at Mission Memorial Hospital, Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Lankford was born September 11, 1937 in Tyler, Texas. He married Paulette Glazener on May 15th, 1960 enjoying 56 years of wedded adventure. Mr. Lankford was a graduate of Belmont College, Nashville, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and with Cum Laude honors. Occupations included time as a machinist in Oak Ridge, Tennessee atomic plant Y12, electron microscopist in Nashville, Tennessee, and many years as gentleman farmer. Mr. Lankford is survived by his wife and two children, Mrs. Laura Short (Craig) of Nashville, Tennessee and Mr. Keith Lankford (Barbara) of Louisville, Kentucky, as well as four grandchildren, Matthew and Emily Short and Noah and Donovan Lankford. He was preceded in death by parents Lyle and Minnie Lankford, elder brother Gerald Lankford, and twin brother Dwayne Lankford. Services celebrating the life of Mr. Lankford will be held at 2 PM Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Mt. Moriah Calvert Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Mt. Moriah Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. On line condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com. Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.