Ryder C. Ray

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Ryder C. Ray, 85, a retired Maryland state employee, died of congestive heart disease Dec. 17 at his home in Severna Park.

He was housing rehabilitation field coordinator with the Maryland   Department of Housing and Community Development at the time of his retirement  in 1985. Previously, he worked for the department as a project coordinator.

Mr. Ray was born in Washington and attended Capitol Page High School as a   youth. He graduated from  St. John's College High School in the District, then attended the University of Texas. He entered the Army Air Corps at the start of World War II and flew bombers in the China-Burma-India theater of operations.

After the war, he operated a family business, F.I. Ray Excavating Co. in   Bethesda, until 1968, when he went to work for the state.

Robert Pearce Myers (Family Photo - Family  Photo)

He volunteered with the Anne Arundel Medical Center auxiliary and was past president of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club and the Community Service Council of Bethesda-Chevy Chase. He was a board member of Suburban Hospital and a member of the Civil Defense Advisory Committee to the Montgomery County Council.

He was awarded the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Civitan Club's annual citizenship award in 1955 and helped establish youth clubs through the Rotary Club.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara G. Ray of Severna Park; three children, Marguerite A. Bream of Dana Point, Calif., Roland C. Ray of Germantown and Ryder C. Ray of Berlin, Md.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.