Raymond Ray Ratay

RATAY, Raymond P., age 77 of Miamisburg, passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Cleveland Clinic. He was born September 8, 1935 in East St. Louis, IL to the late Andrew and Josephine (Leszkowicz) Ratay. In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his brothers Stanley Ratay, Joe Ratay and Matthew Ratay, sisters Stephanie Kritis, Mary (Carl) Norton, Anna Ratay and Helena Ratay, and brothers-in-law John Rolf and Ronald Bowes. He survived by his wife of 51 years, Judy (Dettwiller) Ratay; his children, David (Ellen) Ratay of Kettering, Jennifer Ratay of Dayton, Mary Christina (Neil Jensen) Ratay of British Columbia, Susan (Paul) Couch of Springboro and Jonathan (Christy Lipps) Ratay of Cincinnati; brothers, John Rataj, Gene Ratay; sister, Sharon Sturgeon; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Ratay; Bette Quesenbery, Gloria Rolf, Cheryl Bowes and Margie (David Bussler) Dettwiller and brothers-in-law, Ray Kritis and Charles (Roseann) Dettwiller, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; grandchildren, Alex, Rachael, Jocelyn, Lauren and Jason. Ray was a devout Catholic beginning his spiritual journey with St. Adalbert Parish of East St. Louis, Illinois and then membership with Our Lady of Good Hope, Miamisburg in 1964. Ray was a 1953 graduate of Assumption High School, East St. Louis and continued his education by graduating from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Chemistry. He began his career as a chemist, technical editor and patent developer at Good Year Atomic Energy of Portsmouth, OH then went to the Mound Lab in Miamisburg for 35 years and finally retired from the Department of Energy Consulting and Declassification in Washington D.C. Ray dedicated much of his life to his community through his church but also helped to create the Miamisburg Department of Energy Mound Museum and served on the Board of Elections as well as the School Board. Ray loved gardening, collecting stamps and coins and being a blood donor. He will always be a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. Family will receive friends from 5:30 – 7:30 PM Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at Gebhart-Schmidt-Parramore Funeral Home, Miamisburg. Mass of Christian Burial will begin 11:00 AM Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at Our Lady of Good Hope Church, Miamisburg celebrated by Father Tom Nevels. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Kettering. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association at 5211 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45227 or American Diabetes Association at 4555 Lake Forest Dr. Suite 396, Cincinnati, OH 45242. Personal condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting memorial at www.gebhartschmidtparramore.com.