Raymond Dell Heck

Raymond Dell Heck, (76), of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away on August 15, 2025. He was born on February 8, 1949 to Dwight Raymond Heck and Marie Olga (Solberg) Heck and was welcomed by his older brother, Bob. Ray was a devoted husband to Patty, a loving father to Jennifer Miller (Curt), and a wonderful Opa to Caleb, Gideon, and Moriah. While we grieve the loss of Ray in our lives, we reflect on the meaningful life he lived.

Ray grew up in Denver, Colorado and enjoyed Boy Scouts (gaining his Eagle Scout honor) and competing on the high school swim team. He attended Colorado State earning an undergraduate degree in business and enrolling in ROTC. During College, a friend shared the gospel with him. For the first time, Ray embraced the truth that he was separated from God and accepted Jesus’ gift of forgiveness. That decision and being discipled by the Navigators shaped the rest of his life.

After graduation, Ray entered the Air Force and became a pilot flying C-130s for the remainder of his career. While in the Air Force, Ray was stationed in Germany, which became the place he loved most in the world. It was also in Germany that he met Patty. They married and enjoyed almost 45 years together. After 20 years of service to our country, Ray retired from the Air Force and finished his flying career with UPS on the A-300 (Airbus) crew.

After retiring from UPS, Ray enrolled at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning his masters in Biblical counseling. This became a ministry that he and Patty greatly enjoyed participating in together, focusing mostly on counseling marriages in crisis. While living in Sevierville, Tennessee, he helped to develop the Biblical counseling program at First Baptist Church Sevierville. Twice a year, Ray enjoyed the privilege of traveling to churches in Germany to train others in Biblical counseling principles.

Ray loved many things in life—especially his family, laughter, thought provoking books, meeting new people, and greeting others with a big smile, warm handshake, and sharing a cup (or two) of coffee! But his life has been most characterized by a love for Christ and a desire to help others grow in their faith. Meeting with other men to study the Bible or encourage one another gave him great joy. Though Ray will be greatly missed, we rejoice that he is with the Lord and that his legacy lives on in the hearts of those he cared for and discipled.

Friends are warmly invited to a visitation at Arch L. Heady and Sons Funeral Home (7410 Westport Road, Louisville, KY 40222) Thursday, August 28 from 5-8 PM. The service will be held in the same location on Friday, August 29 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made either to Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (https://biblicalcounseling.com/about/donate/) or Biblical Counseling Ministries Worldwide (https://bcmworldwide.org/serve/help-us/become-a-financial-partner/). Ray greatly valued both of these ministries.