Mr. Robert Charles Bray

Robert C. Bray 1925 - 2010In another month, Dad would have turned 85. We lost him January 13, 2010, after a long illness. He will be missed. He was a husband, a father, a son and a brother. He was a grandfather and great grandfather, a member of the special generation of people who fought for our country in WWII and who came home after the war and went to work, raising a family, working hard, making a difference for those around him. Among those of us who spent a great deal of time around him, none ever recall him complaining about any personal problem or illness-even at the very end of his life. In his school days, he was quite an athlete, catching the attention of baseball scouts who watched him play for Kern County High School (now BHS). His military years were spent with the U.S. Marines, Second Division, and his record with the Corps reads like a history of the War in the Pacific- Tarawa, Eniwetok, Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa, and finally, Japan itself at war's end. Much later in his life, we were able to get Dad to talk to us a little about some of his experiences- how wonderful it was to get a first-person perspective about a difficult time in our country's history. He was a role model for any prospective father, coaching baseball for many years, volunteering as a Cub Scout Packmaster, and introducing us to the outdoors by taking us hunting and fishing. He worked nearly 40 years for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, retiring as a construction foreman. He also was active in the Bell Club, a family-oriented employee group. He loved high school sports, and was a regular at North High games for over 35 years. Robert is survived by Juanita Bray, his beloved wife of 63 years. He is also survived by his daughter Laura Jeffries and her husband Tom, his son Gary and his wife Terri, his son Robert, his brother Bill and his wife Mary, eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was the son of Floyd and Effie Bray, who were the parents of seven children. He was born in Oildale February 17, 1925. He passed away quietly at his home of over 40 years with his family and his little dog Cindy around him. The family wishes to express our thanks to the wonderful people from Continuum Care and from Optimal Hospice Care. Services will be held in the chapel at Hillcrest Mortuary, on Saturday, January 16, at 10:00 a.m.