Willard Douglas Doug Ray

Willard Douglas “Doug” Ray, the son of William Albert and Grace Roselita (Hoskinson) Ray was born August 7, 1933, on a farm near Creston, in Adams County, Iowa. Willard Douglas Ray, Commander United States Navy Retired died November 25, 2011 in Creston, Iowa at the age of seventy-eight years.
Willard Douglas Ray graduated from Creston High School with the Class of 1952. Commander Willard D. Ray was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps after graduating from Iowa State College in June, 1956, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agronomy. He received orders to Flight School, Pensacola, Florida, 1956. He was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1957 in Corpus Christi, Texas. His initial squadron tour was with Air Transport Squadron Eight, flying C-121 aircraft from NAS Moffett Field, California.
On April 19, 1957, he married Shirley Schafer Ray, the daughter of Ralph and Fern Schafer (TLMLWL).
Commander Willard D. Ray was a career military man, retiring in 1977. He also farmed the same farm where he was born. His service record includes: Served as assistant Navigation Officer with Air Transport Squadron Seven at Moffett Field, Aviation Safety Office with Patrol Squadron Six at Barbers Point, Hawaii, Aviation Safety Officer at NAS Memphis, Tennessee, Administrative and NATOPS Officer with Patrol Squadron Forty-six and Air Operations and Plans Officer on the staff of Commander Coastal Surveillance Force One. In March 1969, Commander Ray reported to the Naval Missile Center, Point Mugu, where he served as Training Officer, Executive Assistant and Target Aircraft Control Officer. He assumed his present rank in February 1970 and reported aboard VR-30 in August 1972 as the Operations Officer. In March 1973, Commander Ray became the Executive Officer of VR-30. Commander Ray has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal with a combat “V”, the Air Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Citation, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Left to cherish Dougs memory is his wife of fifty-four years, Shirley Ray, Creston; his brother William G. “Bill” (Loretta) Ray, Creston; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Preceding Doug in death were his parents; his mother-in-law and his father-in-law; and his sister and brother-in-law, Lillian and Richard Beatty.