I have many fond memories of visiting my grandparents, and their parents, in Oregon as a child.  Lucky for me, my step-father, Fritz, took my brothers and I up to see my great grandparents almost every summer for several years. Later in life, when I started doing my genealogy research, I found out that my Grandmother and Grandfather Virgil was still alive and living in my great-grandmother's  house, the same one we use to visit as children.  I was lucky to have several trips up there before he passed away. That is also where I first was reintroduced to my father.   -JNR
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Virgil Leroy Ray
(8-15-19 to 5-27-08)
Hood River News Obituary, May 31, 2008
Virgil Leroy Ray
Virgil Leroy Ray was born in Ione, Ore., on Aug. 15, 1919, to Roy and Bertha (Keeler) Ray. He was the youngest of their three children. Both parents and his siblings, Opal (Ray) Amos and Floyd Ray have preceded him in death.Virgil passed away in the Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles, Ore., on May 27 with his family by his side. He was 88 years old.A service to celebrate his life is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, June 2, at Hood River Valley Christian Church, 975 Indian Creek Road. Military honors will be performed by the Oregon Honors Team. Graveside rites will follow at Idlewilde Cemetery.The family moved to Hood River in 1926. All of Virgil?s schooling was in Odell schools. On Sept. 5, 1937, he married his school sweetheart, Lorena King.
Virgil worked with his father-in-law, George King, on an orchard for four years. In 1941, Richard, the first of his children, was born. Between 1941 and early 1944, Virgil held many different jobs and moved his family frequently.In the fall of 1944 he joined the Army to fight in World War II. A few months after leaving to fight with an Army Field Artillery unit, their second son, Earl, was born.
Early in 1946, Virgil returned to Hood River and his family. He became manager of an orchard owned by Stadelman's Fruit Company. In early 1947, their daughter, Sharron, was born. He ran this orchard from 1946 into 1950.From 1950 to 1962, Virgil was foreman of Stadelman's warehouse and cold storage facility. In 1962, Virgil and Lorena bought an orchard in the Neal Creek area. They ran and worked the orchard until 1972.In 1972, they gave up ranching and moved to Portland where Virgil worked at a trailer parts warehouse until some time in 1976. While working there, Virgil studied massage. In 1976 he passed a test and received his Oregon license from the American Massage Association. He worked for the European Health Spa in Beaverton, Ore., from 1976 to 1984.In 1984, Virgil retired when Lorena's father passed away and they moved back to Hood River to live with and care for her mother. Virgil and Lorena lived in that home until mid-2005 when they moved in with their daughter, Sharron.Virgil is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lorena (King) Ray; one son, Earl, and daughter-in-law, Gale, of Beaverton Ore.; daughter-in-law, Pat (Huff) Ray, in Southern Pine, N.C.; and a daughter, Sharron, and son-in-law, John Rath, of Hood River. Virgil is also survived by nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Virgil was preceded in death by one son, Richard, and three grandchildren.The family suggests any memorials be to Hospice of the Gorge or Hood River Valley Christian Church.Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson?s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000. Visit www.andersonstributecenter.com to view and print the obituary and sign the guest book for family.