Charles Walter Ray of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on November 29, 2021, at the age of 94.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary Lu Ray; children Debbie Vandervegt (Brian Schwarz) and Patti Burt (Wade); grandchildren Rachel Vandervegt and Frank Vandervegt.
Charles was born in Zama, Mississippi on September 10, 1927, to father Maxie Thomas Ray and mother Mattie V. Norris Ray. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corp in WWII. At the end of his service, he returned to Alabama where he met and married Mary Lu Pittard. They were married for seventy one years. They became members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in 1959, and Charles served as a deacon and Sunday School Teacher for many years.
He was a graduate of the University of Alabama, and a member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon. He worked in management at U. S. Steel for thirty years.
Visitation will be held at Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 1:00 pm and a funeral service at 2:00 pm.
