Raymond Anderson

Raymond Ray Anderson of Odessa, Texas passed away in his home on March 31, 2012 with his dog Zeus, family and close friends at his side. Ray was 91 years of age.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday April 7, 2012 at the Asbury Methodist Church in Odessa Texas.

Ray was born to Ellis Anderson and Ellen Johnson Anderson on September 16, 1920 in Beaverton Corner, Boone County, Illinois. He grew up in and around Capron, Illinois and graduated from Capron High School in 1938. Soon after he left and moved to Chicago where he met the love of his life, Lorraine M. Kretchmer. Ray and Lorraine were married in Missouri on October 4, 1943. They had two children, James Ellis and Julie Ray and Ray was devoted to all three.

Ray joined the United States Army Air Corp in 1943 and became a pilot. As Captain Raymond Anderson, he trained enlisted soldiers and officers in the Army Air Corp in navigation by the stars. After his service to his country, he worked for several companies and eventually retired from El Paso Natural Gas Products after seventeen years of exemplary service. Upon retirement Ray was able to spend more time doing other things that he loved such as carpentry and building projects and traveling with Lorraine and his grandchildren. Ray and Lorraine became volunteers for Odessa Meals on Wheels which he continued after her death until a year before his own.

Ray received many honors throughout his career. He was especially proud when he received the W.D. Noel Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Odessa Meals on Wheels.

Ray was man of many interests and talents. He enjoyed many things including fly fishing, air shows, reading, music from the Big Band era, sharing stories with family and friends and eating sherbet every evening with his best friends, John Weir and Zeus. Ray always described himself as a 1920 model. His family and friends describe him as a devoted family man, adventurous, generous, compassionate, and always willing to help others. He was an inspiration and blessing to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Raymond Anderson is preceded in death by his wife Lorraine, son James Ellis Anderson and daughter Julie Ray Anderson. He was a family man and cherished his children, grandchildren, nieces and Kretchmer Anderson. He is survived by his grandchildren, Leslie James Anderson and Lindsey Ellen Anderson Files, great grandson Blake Anderson Files, nieces, nephews, and several grand nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to the Odessa Meals on Wheels program. The family wishes to extent our heartfelt thanks to John Weir, Nancy Lovett, Troy Greenfield, and Kathy Cook for their friendship and attentiveness to Ray.

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