Ray

Merle L. "Brownie" Ray, 86, of Oneida Valley Road, Petrolia, near North Washington, passed away early Sunday morning at Butler Memorial Hospital following a time of failing health.

He was born in North Washington, Dec. 21, 1923, and was a son of the late Merle Campbell Ray and Mildred A. Cuffman Ray.

He was a member of Community Alliance Church in Butler. After attending elementary school at North Washington, he graduated from Hooker High School. He most likely was the last surviving member of his high school graduating class, the Class of 1941.

He was a member of the Army Air Force during World War II and served with the 345th Army Air Force Base Unit in the Burma-Indo-China Theater, primarily in communications and the motor pool.

While stationed at DeRidder Air Base in Louisiana, he met the love of his life, Muriel A. Ruffino, and they were married Oct. 14, 1944, at the DeRidder Air Base in Opelousas, La.

For a time, he was employed as the general sales manager of Manbeck Bread Co. in Hagerstown, Md., before returning to the North Washington area, where he operated Ray's Esso, and then Exxon gasoline station, retiring in 1984 after being in business for more than 50 years along with his father.

Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Muriel A. Ruffino Ray of Oneida Valley Road, Petrolia; a daughter, Deborah A. Ray of Strasburg of Lancaster County; two sons, Thomas G. Ray and his wife, Kimiko, of Oneida Valley Road, Petrolia, and Merle LaVern Ray Jr. and wife, Holly, of Strasburg; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death, along with his parents, are one brother, Gerald F. Ray; and one sister, Gwendolyn Blakely.

<B>RAY</B> — Friends of Merle L. "Brownie" Ray, who died Sunday, July 25, 2010, will be received from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday at <B>Richard D. Hillis Funeral Home </B>in Petrolia, where funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Ted Harris, pastor at Community Alliance Church, Butler officiating. Interment will follow in North Washington Union Cemetery.Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillisfuneralhome.com.