Ray A. Gonzalez

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home in Wichita Falls. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Thursday in the old sanctuary at First Baptist Church, 1200 9th Street in Wichita Falls with Pastor Matt Davila officiating. Interment will follow in Hampton Vaughan Crestview Memorial Park under the direction of Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home of Wichita Falls.

Mr. Gonzalez was born May 29, 1945 in Wichita Falls, son of Ray T. Gonzalez, Sr. and the late Corina Armendarez Gonzalez. He graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1964 and attended Midwestern State University before being drafted. He served in the Army in the Vietnam War. Prior to leaving for war, he married Beatrice Torrez, a union that would last 54 years. He was shot by a sniper while in Vietnam, an injury resulting in chronic pain he would endure the rest of his life. For his service to his country, he received a Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

When he returned to Wichita Falls, he joined his father working at the family business, Ray’s Foreign Car Service. The shop served Volkswagen customers across Texas and the United States for more than 59 years. Ray always had a passion for cars. He would devote 20 years supporting racing mini-sprints (#63) at Pleasant Valley Speedway, Wichita Speedway and racetracks in Texas and Oklahoma. When he was unable to race himself, he had drivers who would compete for him who became family, including Tommy Odom and George Ralston.

A man who believed in the bountiful opportunities of America, Ray would later devote himself to bettering his community. Ray served two terms on the Wichita Falls City Council, becoming the first Hispanic mayor pro tem, then becoming the first Hispanic Wichita County Commissioner in 2009, a position he held until 2016. He loved Wichita Falls, and he served on numerous civic boards and organizations, including the Wichita Falls Teachers Federal Credit Union, Boys & Girls Club, Mexican American Veterans Association (MAVA), and Rathgeber House. He received numerous awards including MAVA Veteran of the Year and Wichita County Hispanic Man of the Year.

Of all the roles in his life, Ray loved being a grandfather the most. He was active in the lives of all four of his grandchildren. He emphasized the importance of education, hard work, accountability, financial discipline and faith in God. Ray was their biggest cheerleader, watching them compete in Coyote soccer, football and baseball.

Along with his mother, Ray was also preceded in death by his sister, Sylvia Gonzalez Grosskreauz.

Surviving Ray are his wife, Bea, daughter, Renae Murphy and husband, Steve, son Ray Albert III and wife, Debbie, father, Ray T. Gonzalez and wife, Maria and four grandchildren, Austin Murphy, Sierra Gonzalez, Zack Murphy and Nick Gonzalez.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Wichita Falls, 1318 9th Street, Wichita Falls, TX 76301.