Ray Allen Roebuck

Ray Allen Roebuck was born November 2, 1939, in Little Rock, Arkansas. After a ferocious full-body cancer fight, Ray joined Madge, his wife of 65 years, in heaven on March 8, 2025, at Chandler House, at the age of 85. Madge passed only four months before him from Alzheimer's also at Chandler House.

At a “tender” age, Ray and Madge “fibbed” about Madge's age and eloped to Mexico (causing their parents to go into shock), raised four exceptional children, adventured the country in their motor home, and held hands to the very end.

After Ray and Madge were married in 1958, Ray worked for several TV repair shops while attending college. He became a stellar electronics technician and around 1965 started a job with Whittaker Corporation. During that time he was working as an Electronics Design Engineer working with leading-edge electronic design of the day. He was part of a team that designed a Dual Inline Package (DIP) Integrated Circuit (IC) which was the frontier of electronic technology used in modern electronics and the new age of computer systems. He designed a power supply that powered the flight recorder of the F-111 fighter/bomber for the United States Air Force. His favorite project was working on the life support systems used in the backpacks of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin supporting the moon landing mission of Apollo 11.

After visiting his brother Neil in 1969, who had a moving and storage business in Ellensburg, Ray and Madge fell in love with Ellensburg and decided to pull out of Reseda, California, and move the family to Ellensburg. Ray bought out a TV shop in Ellensburg and started Roebuck’s TV which grew into a prosperous business. Ray’s parents, Henry and Charlie Mae Roebuck, who lived next door to Ray and Madge in Reseda, moved to Ellensburg shortly after.

The Roebuck family attended the Church of Christ in Ellensburg and later attended the Christian Missionary Alliance Church, of which they were very involved. Ray was instrumental in a new building project for the CMA church and was involved in the construction and leadership for years during the 1970s. In 1972, Ray connected with his old boss from Whittaker, Jack Schmidt, who wanted to start a partnership in the TV business. A new business was started, Ray & Jack’s TV, and the business grew to include sales and repair of TV & Radio/Stereo systems. In 1976, Ray sold off his half of the business to Jack and the family moved out of Ellensburg relocating to Sacramento, CA.

That was short-lived as the family returned to Ellensburg the same year after discovering Ellensburg was really home. Ray started up another TV business in Ellensburg, Roebuck’s TV, and ventured into other business opportunities for growth in Yakima. Their friends in Ellensburg and the CMA church community were happy to see the family return, a mutual feeling for the Roebucks. In 1979 Ray started a new business in Yakima, TV Service Center, after he cemented service contracts with K-Mart, J.C Penney, and the Bon-Marche. Running two businesses between Ellensburg and Yakima became too much, so in 1980, Ray and Madge decided to close the Ellensburg TV shop, sell the house in Ellensburg, and move the family to Yakima just after Mt. St. Helens blew. The business in Yakima flourished and later Ray wanted to expand the business to service home appliances. Around 1986, Ray bought out Light Brothers Appliance in Yakima and the business doubled in service offerings. In 1994, Ray sold the appliance side to his son Calvin who renamed it to Yakima Appliance Service. Ray continued the TV side until his retirement in 1998.

Ray had a love for mechanics and was always fixing his own vehicles, no matter the complexity or challenge. At a young age, Chip remembers handing his dad tools like a surgical assistant and from a young age could recite socket sizes and tool types engrained into his memory, “Hey Chip, hand me a deep dish 5/8’s with swivel extension”. One of Ray’s joys was passing on his technical skills to his boys. In the early 80’s, Ray ventured into a new family hobby of racing. While Chip was off to college, Calvin and Sam became involved with Dad in this new world of stock car racing. The Roebuck Racing Team started and became very involved at the Yakima Speedway which later shaped and molded a career field for Sam in the NASCAR industry. Ray became a known respected technical expert in racing and later performed pre-race inspections at the track. He was inducted into the Yakima Speedway Hall of Fame for his years of service to the racing community.

He is survived by their four children, son Chip and wife Shari (Richland), daughter Tracy (West Richland), son Calvin and wife Stephanie (Yakima), son Sam (North Carolina), ten grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and sister Marilyn (Yakima).

Preceded in death are his parents, Henry Shirley Roebuck and Charlie Mae (Justice) Roebuck, his brother “Neil” Henry Neil Roebuck, and Ray’s wife Madge Carol (Friend) Roebuck.

Ray’s highest pride and joy was serving his family. He was a rock of support for his wife of 65 years, Madge, four children, and families including grand and great-grandchildren. His legacy of love and support for family passes on. Ray had a generous servant’s heart which was infectious and known by family, friends, and the community he was connected to.

May Ray and Madge's family and many friends' treasured memories be a blessing, and may they forever rest in paradise.

The family wishes to express gratitude for the loving care received by the staff at Chandler House and Keith and Keith Funeral Home. A celebration of Ray’s life will be held at Keith and Keith Funeral Home on Friday March 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM with inurnment to follow at 1:00 PM at the IOOF cemetery in Ellensburg. To leave a memory for the family please visit keithandkeith.com