1917 ~ 2003
SALT LAKE CITY-<! >
Ray Orton McEntire, 85, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2003 following years of living with Alzheimer's Disease.
He was born August 4, 1917 in Farr West, Weber County, Utah, a son of James Arthur and Sarah Orton McEntire.
Ray married Ila B. Whitesides on December 10, 1942. They lived in Layton for over 30 years.
Ila died in October of 1988. Ray married his former high school sweetheart, Ruth Holbrook Aikele, on January 17, 1989. They traveled extensively throughout the world to locations such as Africa, Europe, Panama and the Pacific Islands.
Ray graduated from Davis High School and attended Weber College and Lockheed Aeronautical School.
Ray was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a proselytizing mission to Tahiti from 1939-1941. He provided years of service to others through numerous church callings and served as an
LDS Chaplain at Hill Air Force Base for many years.
Ray served with the U.S. Air Force during World War II in the European Theatre of Operation.
He was an aeronautics engineering specialist
at Hill Air Force Base retiring in 1971.
Ray was a farmer by avocation, as well as an outdoorsman. He and his family enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and skiing in the West's recreational sites. Ray was also an avid pilot, and even built his own airplane at one time. Ray provided over 5,700 hours volunteering at the U of U Medical Center. He had also volunteered for many years with the Civil Air Patrol.
Surviving are his wife, Ruth, of Sandy; two daughters, Leilani Wheeler, Hooper; Marilyn McEntire, Layton; three sons, Karl (Laurie) McEntire, Falmouth, ME; Bryan (Darla) McEntire, Pleasanton, CA; John (Lenore) McEntire, Woodland, UT; 11 grandchildren and four great-grand-children. Also surviving are two sisters, Marie Sill and Mauna Morgan; four step-children and 12 step-grand-children.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and four sisters.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may call at the mortuary on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Interment, Ogden City Cemetery.
A hearty thank you to the splendid staff and caregivers at Silverado Senior Living for the care and love given to Ray and his family.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association at 4800 S. 845 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84107, in Ray's memory would be appreciated.
Email condolences to the family at: lom@lindquistmortuary.com