Mr. Robert Allen “Bob” Ray Sr., age 80, of Bennington, Indiana, entered this life on December 26, 1945 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the son of the late Everett M. and Ruth Evelyn (Bonar) Ray. Bob was raised in Newtonsville, Ohio where he graduated high school. He earned an associate’s degree in engineering from ITT Technical Institute in Ohio. Bob was inducted into the United States Air Force on August 20, 1965 in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving in the Vietnam War. Bob was transferred to the reserves on July 19, 1970 at the Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona. He was honorably discharged on August 19, 1971 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Bob re-enlisted into the Air Force National Guard on May 23, 1972 and was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant on December 23, 1972. Bob was united in marriage to Donna Kay McCracken on February 17, 1968 in Springdale, Ohio. This union was blessed with four children, Everett, Tina, Linda, and Robert Jr. Bob and Donna shared 39 years together until her passing on February 7, 2007. Bob was employed for Fernald in Cincinnati, Ohio for five years. He retired from Dow Corning in Carrollton, Kentucky after 20 years of service. Bob was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185. Bob was truly a master of projects and a man of remarkable talents. There was hardly anything he couldn’t fix, build, or improve. At 78 years old, Bob built a greenhouse on his farm, a testament to both his strong work ethic and his deep love of gardening. He also built his own solar farm, always tinkering, and he found joy in working on anything and everything. If something was broken, Bob could repair it. If something seemed useless, he could repurpose it into something meaningful. His creativity, resourcefulness, and many talents were admired by all who knew him. Bob leaves behind a legacy of hard work, ingenuity, and the reminder that it’s never too late to build something new. Bob passed away with his loving family by his side at 7:36 a.m., Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at his daughter’s residence in Bennington, Indiana.
Bob will be missed by his sons and daughters, Everett Ray of Prescott, AZ, Tina McWhorter and her husband, Steve of Bennington, IN, Linda Parnell of Harrison, IN, and Robert Ray, Jr. of Lawrenceburg, IN; his grandchildren, Samantha Parnell and her husband, Shawn Ferguson, Donna York and her husband, Jonathan, Anna Ray, and Summer Ray; his great-grandchildren, Amelia Ferguson, Gracelynn Ferguson, Corbin York, and Landen York; his brothers, Gary Ray and his wife, Diana, and Larry Ray and his wife, Judy; and his sisters, Phyllis Fellers and her husband, Norman, and Carolyn Harvey and her husband, Roger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett M. and Ruth Evelyn (Bonar) Ray; his wife, Donna Kay (McCracken) Ray; his grandson, Kevin William Wesley and his son-in-law, Anthony Parnell.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Interment and full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 in the Grandview Memorial Gardens in Madison, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Charity of the Donor’s Choice. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com