Ray Altman,

Ray served in WWII from 1942-1945 under the 844th Air Engineer Squadron of the United States Army. Ray worked in Mansfield, Ohio as an auto mechanic when he felt his call into the ministry.

From Mansfield Ray and his wife Kate and two children moved to Greenville Illinois where Ray graduated in 1954 with a Bachelors Degree from Greenville College. The family then moved to Wilmore Kentucky where Ray attended Asbury Theological Seminary to obtain his Master of Divinity Degree. Ray then started his 30 year service to the Lord in The Ohio Free Methodist Conference where he served as pastor of 4 different churches over a period of 18 years then was elected as superintendent of the conference where he served the remaining 12 years. Ray retired in 1987 from the Conference.

Ray is survived by his wife of 71 years Catherine E. (Meadows) Altman; grandchildren; Mathew Corman of North Carolina, Cathy (Tim) Lawrence of Lake Orion, MI, Juli (Roy) Craft of Lexington, Jerald Shaffer of Lexington, Becky (Steve) Byrd of Perrysburg; great-grandchildren, Matt Corman Jr., Michelle Corman, Cathy Shaffer, Nicholas Brogan, Jodi Craft, Jarod Lawrence, Joslyn Lawrence, Jacob Bilger and Elyza Byrd. His sister, Elinore Cunning of Mansfield, Jean (Robert) Liston of Santa Barbara, CA, JoAnn (Raymond) Wolf of Mansfield, Marion (JoAnn) Altman of Mansfield, and many nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his father and mother; brother, Dwight E. Altman; sister, Francis Mitchell; daughters, Sandra R. Altman, Nancy L. Bechtel; grandchildren, Jamie S. Shaffer, Jeffery A. Shaffer; great-grandchildren Matthew D. Byrd.

Friends and family may visit from 4-8 p.m. Monday, September 17, 2012 at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Rd. The funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Galion Free Methodist Church with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Rev. Paul Walter will conduct the service. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park. Memorial contributions can be made in honor of Ray to either Hospice of North Central Ohio, or Galion Free Methodist Church.