Raymond Rucker Beasley

Raymond R. "Ray" Beasley, a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather, cherished friend, World War II veteran, Virginia Tech football player and widely respected sports official, died peacefully Oct. 27, 2026, at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine in Norfolk. He was 103.

Born April 22, 1923, in Richmond, Ray lived a remarkable life defined by family, friendship, service and the many lasting relationships he formed over more than a century. Richmond was always home, a place he loved deeply for its people, its familiar places and a lifetime of cherished memories.

Ray was a loving and devoted husband to his high school sweetheart, the former Alice Lipscomb. They shared 77 years of marriage before her death in 2018 and together raised two children, Janet and Douglas, who died in 2017. Ray took enormous pride in his family and treasured the time he spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and their growing families. He also was a loyal and generous friend to many, maintaining close friendships throughout his life.

A lifelong Virginian, Ray grew up in South Richmond and graduated from John Marshall High School, where he was a running back on the legendary 1940 football team that went undefeated, allowed no points and won the state championship.

After initially working at DuPont, Ray accepted a football scholarship in 1942 to what is now Virginia Tech. His college years were interrupted by World War II, when he was drafted into the

U.S. Army Air Corps. He ultimately served as a photographer with the 87th Infantry Division and was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal.

Ray returned to Blacksburg in 1945 to resume his studies and rejoin the Virginia Tech football team. He was part of the team that played in the 1947 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, the first Virginia college football team to participate in a New Year's Day bowl game. While at Virginia Tech, Ray and Alice also established a food cooperative to help other veteran couples gain greater access to nutritious food.

After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1949 with a bachelor's degree in business administration, Ray began a career with Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, retiring nearly 40 years later as a district manager in charge of directory operations.

Outside of work, Ray was a founding member of Salisbury Country Club and an avid golfer. The game was one of his great pleasures throughout his life, and he continued to play regularly until he was 100 years old.

Sports remained an important part of Ray's life. Beginning in 1950, he spent 38 years as a high school and college football referee, officiating eight high school championship games as a member of the Central Virginia Football Officials Association and serving as a referee in the NCAA Division I Southern Conference.

Ray was twice honored with the Southern Conference's Silver Whistle Award as its top collegiate official, in 1973 and 1981. Decades later, in 2022, the Touchdown Club of Richmond presented him with its Gold Flag Award in recognition of his integrity, sportsmanship and commitment to excellence in officiating.

In 2023, as Ray celebrated his 100th birthday, the Virginia General Assembly adopted a joint resolution commending him for his personal and professional achievements and recognizing him as a longtime sports official and highly admired member of his community. The resolution reflected the extraordinary sweep of a life that stretched from the Great Depression and World War II through the moon landing and into the Internet age.

Ray is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Janet and John Ellerson, of Norfolk; three grandchildren, Tracey Ellerson, of Norfolk, Amy Martinez, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Leslie Doyle, of Norfolk; five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 77 years, Alice Lipscomb Beasley, and their son, Douglas Beasley.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 23, 2026 at 2:00pm at Bon Air Christian Church in Richmond, 2071 Buford Rd. The family is deeply grateful to Suncrest Hospice and to the staff at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine for the skilled and loving care they provided during Ray's final months. Ray delighted in sitting outside or just inside the Ballentine's entrance each day, greeting staff members as they came and went. Those daily greetings became treasured friendships, and the affection was very much mutual: the staff lovingly called him their "Pa-Pa." Their kindness, friendship and care meant more to Ray, and to his family, than they can know.