Raymond Noel Trenberth

Raymond ”Ray” Noel Trenberth, 82, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away to be with our Lord on Friday, September 5, 2014. Ray was born on December 25, 1932, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Marie and Thomas Trenberth. The family moved to the Phoenix area when Ray was 10 years old. Ray attended Phoenix Union High School and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors degree in education. Ray became a U.S. citizen in 1953. That same year he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on active duty during the Korean War as a Radar and Operations Specialist and retired from the Navy Reserve having attained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. In civilian life, Ray taught math and social studies to middle-school children for nearly thirty years until his retirement from the Washington School District in 1992.

In 1952, Ray was attending Phoenix College where he met Mary Frances Rieger. They married in Phoenix in 1955, and had their son Christopher Alan Trenberth in 1959. In 2005, Ray and Mary celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Ray loved golfing, bowling, and playing poker. He had an extensive hat collection, was an avid coin collector, and the proud owner of a vintage 1969 Chevrolet El Camino. Ray was a member of the American Legion, the Elks Club, the National Education Association, and the Phoenix Antiques Club. He was very active in the Heritage Heights Homeowners’ Association and was on board for many years and served as its president.

Ray is preceded in death by his son, Christopher. He is survived by his wife Mary, their grandson, Christopher William Trenberth of Tucson, and his extended family in Cornwall, England.

Ray had a wonderful sense of humor and a gift for making people laugh and putting them at ease. He was a dedicated friend and was always available and will to help others when called upon. Ray was dearly loved by all his friends and family and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, June 6, 2015 at Shadow Mountain Mortuary, 2350 E. Greenway Road, Phoenix, Arizona, with reception to follow, and graveside service with military honors at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road in Phoenix. The date and time is to be announced for the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Ray’s memory to the charity of one’s choosing. Please visit www.shadowmountainmortuary.com to leave online condolences for the family.