Ronald George Ray

He was born on January 5, 1935 to Albert E. and Ruby L. (Knight) Ray in Fairmont, West Virginia. He went to school in Elkins, West Virginia, attended West Virginia University and graduated from Davis & Elkins College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1957. Ron was in ROTC in college, and upon graduation was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force.

Ron’s love of flying began when he was a child. Much to his mother’s dismay, he would climb to the highest point of a tree or pole so he could see what the earth looked like from above. His career as a pilot began when he flew the T-34, T-28 and T-33 in Air Training Command in flight school. His first fighter assignment was the F86-F. He finished F-86 gunnery school at the top of his class at Williams AFB in Arizona, having qualified on his first air-to-air gunnery mission. He then flew the F-100C at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He was next assigned to the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at Woodbridge AFB in England, where he flew the F-101-A/C “voodoo” while serving under the legendary Robin Olds, Chappie James, and Ralph Maglione, who later became commander of the US Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, and invited Ron to join the team after his tour in England. Ron declined after weighing the duty requirements against the needs of his young and growing family.

During a temporary squadron relocation, Ron met and married his wife Beverly in June 1960, and together they had 3 sons and a daughter while stationed in England and Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas. He was honorably discharged having attained the rank of Captain.

Ron joined American Airlines in 1967, based in Buffalo, New York and later Dallas-Fort Worth, in a career spanning nearly 28 years which included flight engineer, first officer, captain (1985) and pilot check airman (1987-95) on various aircraft, including the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and Boeing 757/767. During Operation Desert Storm & Desert Shield in 1991, he voluntarily flew Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) missions for American Airlines, bringing troops home from the war zone. He retired from American Airlines in January, 1995.

Ron was a devout Christian, loving husband, devoted father of 4 and grandfather of 10, and an avid golfer and walker. People knew him to be quiet and patient, with a great wit and sense of humor. His relationship with Christ was the most important thing in his life, but family was a close second. He loved being around, talking with, and playing with his grandchildren. He and Beverly traveled extensively in their retirement years, playing golf and enjoying the company of longtime friends, usually in the Park City area of Utah during Texas summers and the Palm Coast area of Florida during Texas winters.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Beverly of Colleyville, Texas; brothers, Edward of Fairmont, West Virginia, Charles “Bud” (Carolyn) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; sons, Ron Ray, Jr (Kesie) of Ft Worth, Texas, David (Karen) of Dallas, Texas, Michael (Michelle) of Charlotte, North Carolina, daughter Christie (Michael) of Grapevine, Texas; grandchildren, Cameron, Eli, Madeline, Aston, Monica, Jennifer, Abigail, Emily, Zachary, and Katherine; and a host of cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother John, and sister Diana Satterfield.

A graveside service was held at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville on April 8, 2020.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.