Phillip Dale Ray

Phillip Dale Ray, 75, passed away Wednesday, January 26, 2011 in Van Buren. He was the youngest son of four children of Albert William and Ica Wilson-Ray, and was born June 27, 1935 in the Cornish community near the center of what is now Fort Chaffee. His grandfather, James Buchanan Ray, settled in the area from Georgia in the late 1860’s. Phillip was a member of the First Baptist Church, Fort Smith.

Phillip graduated from Greenwood High School in May, 1953. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in August, 1954, serving as Staff Chaplain’s Aide simultaneously under the Western Air Defense Force, Colorado Springs, Colorado, the 25th Air Division, Tacoma, Washington, and the 337th Fighter Group, Portland, Oregon. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation for meritorious services rendered. Following discharge in 1959, he attended the University of Houston, Houston Texas for one year, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho for one year, and graduated from Portland State University, Portland, Oregon June 9, 1968 with dual majors in Computer Science and Behavioral Psychology.

Following graduation, he was appointed Registrar of the University Of Oregon Health Sciences Center in Portland, holding that position for 25 years. Returning to Fort Smith in April of 1982, he served on the Administrative Faculty of the Fort Smith School District for four years as a computer programmer/analyst, retiring in March of 2000 from Medical Holdings, Ltd in Fort Smith with twelve years service as Office Manager for Nursing Home Construction.

Phillip was preceded in death in the new millennium by his sister, Jane Ray-Stewart, and his brother, Dempsey Ray. He is survived by one brother, Gerald D. Ray of Alma, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 29 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood, with interment in the family plot at Liberty Cemetery in Greenwood. Viewing will be 8 am to 1 pm Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Greenwood United Methodist Church, P.O. box 549, Greenwood, AR 72936, or the Sebastian County Humane Society, 3800 Kelley Hwy, Fort Smith, AR 72903.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com