Richard Edwin Ray, 92, of Indiana, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026 at the Fountains in Indiana. He was born in Nicola, Armstrong County, to the late James Herbert Ray Sr. and Mary Campbell Lamison Ray on July 10, 1933. He graduated from Worthington-West Franklin High in 1950 and joined the United States Navy in August of that year. Richard served as a Radio Operator on the USS Amphion, receiving the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal, and was honorably discharged in May 1954. While still in the Navy, Richard married B. Marlene Hankinson in Chicora, PA on March 3, 1953.
Following his discharge from the Navy, Richard attended Indiana State Teachers College as an English major and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. He taught English at Butler Junior High School from 1958 to 1965, working alongside his brother Perry, who taught Science there at the same time. After receiving his Master of Science Degree in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in 1965, Richard joined the English Department faculty at the Kittanning Center of IUP and taught there until 1968. While at the Kittanning Center he also coached the baseball team. Richard was a member of the Hill United Presbyterian Church during his time living in Butler, and served as a Deacon at the church. He spent a year of residency at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, working towards a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in English, before joining the English Department faculty at the Indiana campus of IUP in 1969. After moving to Indiana, he joined Graystone Presbyterian Church.
Richard obtained his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in English from Bowling Green State University in 1973. He served as Chairman of the English Department at IUP from 1976 to 1979 and later assumed the role of Associate Dean of the Graduate School prior to returning to teach in the English Department. In 1984 he co-authored a textbook with two other IUP English Department professors, “Style and Readability in Technical Writing,” and taught technical writing seminars with his co-authors at several universities with engineering programs. While at IUP, he was a member of the American Dialect Society. When he was not teaching during Summer Sessions, Richard did home addition and remodeling work with one of his English Department colleagues.
After a 27-year career at IUP as a teacher and administrator, Richard retired in 1992. At the beginning of his retirement, he built a three-car garage and then later converted much of the 2 1/2- acre property behind his home in Indiana into an orchard, growing pears, peaches and numerous varieties of apples. He sought advice from other experienced apple growers and became skilled at grafting apple trees. Richard was also an avid fly fisherman throughout his life and enjoyed trout fishing in various streams in Pennsylvania.
Richard is survived by his son, Richard Edwin (Jean) Jr. of Hightstown, New Jersey, and four grandchildren. Also surviving are his sister Shirley Hardies of Severna Park, MD and his brother Donald (Nancy) Ray of Poland, Ohio and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his son Steven Eric Ray; his wife of 69 years, B. Marlene Ray; his brothers, Wilbert, William, James Herbert Jr., Adam, George, and Perry; and his sisters Sarah Ellenberger, Elsie Couch, Martha Ryder Ellenberger, and Berniece (Jean) Maley.
Friends will be received by the family from 10 AM until the time of service at 12 PM on Saturday, May 9 at the Donahue-Tylinski Funeral Home (formerly Bowser Minich), 500 Ben Franklin Road, Indiana, with
Reverend David Hanna officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery where military honors will be accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
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