Dates
Ray E. Fitzgerald, age 91, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 11, 2017. A native Texan, Ray was born in Tarpley, TX on July 15, 1925, to Stanford Collier Fitzgerald and Frances Virginia Hay Fitzgerald. He had three sisters and two brothers.
About the age of 11, Ray moved to Fort Davis to join his brother, Johnnie to work and “see the world”. Jim and Pansy Espy took Ray in, gave him a home, job, and put him in school. He graduated in May of 1943 and left to join the Navy on July 7, 1943 to serve in the Pacific, Guadalcanal and in Hawaii. When he was honorably discharged on May 29, 1946, he came home to Ft. Davis to marry his high school sweetheart, Mary B. Friend. They had two children, Mary Lynn (Rusty) Wofford of Ft. Davis and Elizabeth Ann Cope of Salem, NY. Ray was totally devoted to his wife and children for which he always showed patience and love. Ray worked for the Espys for 12 years then “struck out to see more of the world” and went to work for El Paso Natural Gas. They lived many places including Oran, Algeria, Africa. Ray spent 3 years as an engineer helping to build the LNG plant in Oran, Algeria. Ray retired in 1989 to enjoy life and continue to focus his leadership skills and knowledge in being a faithful servant to the Lord as a deacon and Bible study leader. Ray would help anyone; he was a giver and always spread the love of Christ.
Ray is survived by his wife of 70 years, their children “Rusty” and husband Johnny Wofford, Beth and husband David Cope; 3 grandchildren, Warren Wofford, Georgia and husband Jason Thomas, and Alli Wofford. He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings except brother, Jack Fitzgerald. Ray had numerous beloved friends, all of whom he cared for deeply and to whom he was thankful for their love and support.
A visitation with family will be from 5PM-7PM on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at Harper Funeral Home. The Graveside service will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, June 17, 2017 at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Ft. Davis, TX