Date Published: February 11, 2007  

THE ITEM, Sumter, SC  

FORREST A. RAY

Forrest Arthur Ray, age 77, beloved husband of 42 years to Virginia Kathryn Kiser Ray, family man, celebrated musician and teacher, died on Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, surrounded by family and friends.

He was born in Huntington, W.Va., on Jan. 28, 1930, to the late Aaron Joseph and Lucy Wright Ray. He was raised in the Junior Order Children's Home in Tiffin, Ohio, from the age of 10 months following his father's death and mother's illness. There he found his love for music, beginning singing at the age of 5, moving to the trumpet, French horn and finally trombone until he was assigned to the tuba as the only available instrument when he was in the 11th grade. The tuba and the string bass became his two main staples in his long musical career. He entered the Army Air Corps early in 1947 then auditioned for, and was accepted into, the Air Force Band. He was initial cadre and a member of the original Air Force Academy Band. He served 21 years in the Air Force. He would be the first to tell you how lucky he was to spend his life doing what he loved most – music – saying, "Musicians live to play; the Air Force gave us a steady job doing it." His assignments included the premiere Air Force Ceremonial Band in Washington, D.C., and the famed Air Force Academy Band before moving to Shaw Air Force Base in 1965. He wrote and composed "Falcon Fight," the Air Force Academy fight song, along with numerous other scores still played and recorded today.

After retiring in 1969, he devoted his life to passing the gift of music to local students as a band director in Sumter School District 2, teaching at Hillcrest, Furman and Ebenezer High Schools, and then at Sumter Catholic and St. Anne's Elementary schools. He led music for the Protestant, then Catholic, parish on Shaw Air Force Base for 27 years, accompanied by his wife, Virginia. He also taught in adult education programs in the county, both at Central Carolina Technical College and Sumter Adult Education.

Forrest never met a stranger, found good in every person and never took anything or anyone in his life for granted. While a complex man, he found pleasure in the smallest of things and was especially proud of the success of those whose life he touched in some way. He was a Kiwanian, life member of the American Legion and board member of the Sumter-Shaw Community Concert Association, and a member of the Sumter Community Concert Band. He volunteered with the Sumter Little Theater, Civic Chorale, and could often be found playing his bass, backing up local visiting artists.

Forrest Ray is survived by his wife, Virginia Kathryn Kiser Ray; his seven children, Roxanna Ray Parrish of Hinesville, GA, Robert Dee Ray of Savannah, GA, Rose Ray Kercheval and her husband, Brandon, of Pipe Creek, TX, Rebecca Ray Turner of Fairbanks, AK, Wayne David "Sting" Ray and his wife, Teresa, of Charlotte, NC. Laura Ray Blanchard and her husband, Richard, of Charleston, and Major William Forrest Ray and his wife, Susan, of Sumter; 15 grandchildren, Benjamin Parrish, Elizabeth Hollman, Heather Hunter, Melodee Brant, Forrest Adams, Geoffrey Parrish, Kristine Adams, Justin Ray, Joshua Ray, Kathryn Blanchard, Stockton Blanchard, Mary Elizabeth Ray, Laura Grace Blanchard, William Forrest Ray Jr. and Matthew Ray; seven great-grandchildren, Ryan Parrish, Alec Barger, Dakota Best, Allison Grace Hunter, Pate Parrish, Emma Adams, Michael Hollman Jr., and Joseph Parrish; sisters, Helen Mathews of Trinity, Texas, and Freda Thomas of Rock Hill; and scores of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Conoth and Freeman Ray; and sisters, Letha Thurgood and Mildred Dziarnowski.

His family will celebrate his life with services at Shaw Air Force Base Palmetto Chapel with full military honors beginning at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Sumter Community Concert Band, P.O. Box 2564, Sumter, SC 29151-2564; the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education, c/o Jane May, SC State Treasurer, 38 Cypress Hollow, Bluffton, SC 29909-5071; or to the Sumter County Library, 180 Wesmark Blvd., Sumter, SC 29150.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.bullockfuneralhome.com.