Larry Ray

Our treasured husband, father and grandfather, Larry Ray, joined his friend and Savior on Oct. 1, 2021.

Larry was born in Greencastle on Jan. 22, 1939 and grew up on the family farm near Cloverdale.

He attended Purdue University (Bachelor of Science in agriculture, 1961, Master of Science in education 1965), and United Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity, 1969). Larry and his wife, Wilma, met at Purdue and married on Dec. 24, 1961.

They have two daughters, Lynn Ray and Nancy (George) Chung, and three granddaughters, Veronica, Vanessa and Valerie Chung. Larry is also survived by his brother, Rod (Linda) Ray; nephew Anthony (Kathryn) Ray; niece Michelle (Chris) Librie; and great-nephews/great-nieces Carson and Fiona Ray and Caleb and Cadence Librie.

After serving as the vocational agriculture, biology and chemistry teacher at Urbana High School and vocational agriculture teacher at Northfield High School, Larry attended United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He interned as an associate pastor at St. Andrews UMC in Milton, Pa., and in 1969 was ordained as elder in the United Methodist Church for the former North Indiana Conference.

Larry and Wilma began their ministry in Colfax and New Hope. From there, they served churches in La Fontaine, Huntington, Kendallville, Bluffton and South Bend. Before retiring in 2004, Larry served as district superintendent of the Fort Wayne United Methodist District for eight years. In post-retirement, he was the parish visitation pastor for North Manchester UMC.

Larry believed in passing Christ’s love to all humankind. He knew that God loves everyone. He spent 53 years of providing pastoral care to anyone who needed him and left an imprint on us all.

The viewing will be 3-8 p.m. on Oct. 7 in the Fellowship Hall of Wabash First UMC, and the celebration of life/funeral service is on Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. also at First UMC, Wabash.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations of money or time in Larry’s name to any of the following: Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Appalachian Trail Conservancy or your church of choice.

Visit www.grandstaff-hentgen.com/obituary/larry-ray to share memories of Larry.