Dale Ray

Dale Francis Ray of Chincoteague VA (affectionately know as Ray by his friends), with his daughter by his side, departed this world on July 27, 2009 to reunite with his wife, Shirley Ray, who preceded him in death in 2002. He was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1936 to John and Margaret Ray, both now deceased. He is also preceded in death by three brothers, Martin Ray, Ralph Ray and Eugene Ray.

Ray served in the Army from October 1954 through February 15, 1962 and was a welder at the Newport News Shipyard for 20 years. He worked as an interior finish carpenter until his retirement. During his retirement, as in his work career, he took great pleasure and pride in his wonderful vegetable gardens and his friends shared in the fruits of his labor. He was also a skilled carpenter and many of his friends have beautiful woodworking gifts to remember him by.

He is survived by his daughter, Susan Morgan Krista (and husband Donald Krista) of Chincoteague, VA. Below is a small portion of a poem Susan had written for him one Father's Day when she was an adolescent:

Don't call him my stepfather, that's not what he is

He has raised me from a little child and my heart is his

He took me in when no one else seemed to care

A stronger bond no other daddy and daughter will ever share

Susan remembers the first time she ever heard Holly Dunn sing "Daddy's Hands". "I cried. That song was my Daddy to a T. I have seen his hands callused and bleeding many times and I will always remember that ‘there was always love in daddy's hands'".

"Paw Paw" is also survived by a granddaughter, Patricia Morgan of Chincoteague, VA and a grandson, Robert Morgan and his wife Aimee (and great granddaughters Annabelle and Addison) all of Mathews, VA.

Additional survivors are his sisters, Betty Bryant of Falls Church VA, Joyce Kline of New Kensington PA, Patty Hughes of New Kensington PA and Melva Null of Coconut Creek FL and two brothers, Johnny Ray of Leechburg PA and Harry Ray of Leechburg PA.

Following cremation, Ray will be interred alongside his beloved Shirley at Windsor Gardens Mausoleum in Dutton, VA in a private memorial to be held at a later date.

The family respectfully requests any expressions of sympathy be in the form of a donation to: Hospice and Palliative Care of the Eastern Shore, 165 Market Street Suite 3, Onancock, VA 23417.

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