Charles Preston Ray ^{1 2 3 4}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Obituary: Columbus Republic: obituary of Charles Preston Ray on 13 Mar 1998 in Columbus, Bartholomew, IN. ² Charles Preston Ray, 80, of Hope died at 3:35 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 1998, at his home.

He was a manufacturer's sales representative and owner of Ray's Trenching Service at Hope. He was a member of Hope United Methodist Church, Hope Lion's Club and the Indianapolis Antelope Club.

Private memorial service will be conducted by Jay Shoaf. Arrangements were made by Norman Funeral Home of Hope.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Bartholomew County.

Mr. Ray was born in Bartholomew County June 15, 1917, the son of Dallas Preston and Merle Virginia Cook Ray. He married Madesta Ruth Thomas April 22, 1940. She survives.

Also surviving are sons, Robert A. Ray of Hope, Richard P. Ray of Flat Rock and Charles D. Ray of Hartsville; daughters, Anita Beeker, Roxanne Lortz and Nancy Shoaf, all of Hope, L. Lynn Heddin of Seymour and Virginia Palmer of Indianapolis; 19 grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and five stepgreat-grandchildren.

Charles married Madesta Ruth Thomas on 22 Apr 1940.^{1 2} (Madesta Ruth Thomas was born on 10 Nov 1918 in Anderson, Madison, IN ¹ and died on 16 Nov 2015 in Columbus, Bartholomew, IN ¹.)