John Charles Ray

John Charles Ray, 70, of Fancy Gap, VA, died Monday, September 8, 2008, at his beloved Craggy Heights. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, September 13, 2008, at his home at 121 Bluemont Lane, Fancy Gap, VA. A native of Southern Pines, Mr. Ray was the son of Daniel Shaw Ray, Jr. and Dixie Battley Ray, both deceased, and from families of Scottish and English descent, who lived in Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and the Moore County area since the mid-1620's. Ray was a member of Bluemont Presbyterian Church and was also an elder in that church. Ray graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1960 with a major in English. While there, he served as a student legislator, a member of the student council, and a member of the Order of the Old Well. As a member of the Air Force ROTC, Ray became cadet commander of that organization his senior year. He served in the United States Air Force in Texas, South Carolina, Izmir, Turkey and Western Germany and completed his service as a reserve officer with the rank of captain. Upon his return from Europe, he worked for "The Pilot" newspaper in Southern Pines prior to joining International Harvester Company as a motor truck zone manager. In 1968, Ray became a truck dealer of International Harvester in High Point. Later, he purchased the dealership in Greensboro (where he began his truck career) and later purchased the dealership in Mount Airy. He was a Paul Harris fellow with Rotary International, past chairman of the High Point Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the American Truck Dealers in Washington, D.C., an American Truck Dealer of the year nominee, and recipient of the North Carolina Distinguished Service Award. He served with the Triad Chambers during its early founding years. Survivors include his wife, Cynthia Taylor Ray of the home; daughters, Paige Ray of Virginia Beach, VA, and Laura Wolf and husband, Matthew, of Troy; and four grandchildren, Laura Danielle Ray-DeBaca and John Carter Ray Davis, both of Virginia Beach, VA, and Brianna Wolf and Anna Katherine Wolf, both of Troy. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030.