...retired Civil Defense Director for Tewksbury; 82
TEWKSBURY - Warren P. Ray Jr., age 82, formerly of North Tewksbury, died Tuesday, May 3rd at the Hope Hospice House in Ft. Myers, Florida, after a courageous two month battle with an especially aggressive form of throat cancer. He was the beloved husband of Jean R. (Gianquitto) Ray, with whom he had celebrated a 54th wedding anniversary this past February 24th.
He was born in Cambridge, June 30, 1928, the only child of the late Warren and Leah (Murphy) Ray. He was raised in Cambridge, and upon graduation, enlisted into the Massachusetts National Guard. He later reenlisted into the U.S. Army, and retired from the Army Security Agency after 32 years of service. He was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He served the Town of Tewksbury as the Civil Defense Director throughout the Cold War years well into the 1980's.
He was active in Tewksbury where he resided from 1957 until 2001, as a member of the Tewksbury-Wilmington B.P.O. Elks, Lodge 2070, where he organized the Bowling League and the Men's Softball League. In his earlier years he also worked as a Tewksbury Call Firefighter.
He retired Laconia, NH, in 2001, and had wintered in Ft. Myers Florida since retirement. He was a member of both the American Legion and the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Laconia Chapters.
Besides his wife, he is survived by four children, Susan Ray of Tewksbury, William "Billy" Ray of Goffstown, NH, Karen Michaud and her husband Walter of Methuen, and Gregory Ray and his wife Sandy of Tewksbury; eight grandchildren, Kristen Ouellette and her husband Jason, Tara, Emily and Zoe Toohey, Jessica and Julie Michaud, Jamie and Greg Ray; four great grandchildren, Amber, Alyssa, Paige, and Callie; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also father of the late Warren Ray, and grandfather of the late Samantha and Cassandra Ray.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, May 13 in St. Robert's Bellarmine Church, W. Andover. Burial with Army Honors followed at St. Mary Cemetery, No. Tewksbury. Memorials to the Hope Hospice House, 9470 HealthPark Cir., Ft. Myers, FL, 33908, will be appreciated