Ray H. Mumford

Ray Hulette Mumford, 71, died the morning of December 13, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ray was born on March 26, 1940 in the District of Columbia to Charles Jaques and Blanche Hulette Mumford of Bethesda, Maryland.

Ray received a scholarship to Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, and also attended Wingate College in Wingate, North Carolina and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. As a young man, he worked as a surveyor for an electric company that placed lines from the mainland to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Ray then started as a Draftsman, and later became a Senior Design Engineer with Diazit Company Inc. He worked with Diazit for over 40 years, and retired in 2010.

Ray's lifelong passion was trains and railroading. A long-time modeler of HO gauge trains, Ray was a member of several train organizations and won awards for his meticulous detailing of the models. From the time he was a young man, he enjoyed traveling and photographing steam engines and the railways.

Ray earnestly volunteered through Edenton Street United Methodist Church whenever possible. His volunteer work through the church included working in Eastern North Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana with Disaster Relief following several hurricanes, and working as a transitional host with the Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network.

Ray was married to Susan Bass Mumford of Raleigh from May of 1968 until June of 1998. Ray is survived by his son, David Miles Mumford, daughter-in-law, Jessica Lee Mumford, two grandchildren, Charles Aidan Mumford and Colin Michael Mumford, and cousin Reginald Trotter of Paris, France. Ray is predeceased by his son Charles Stuart Mumford and his sister Ann Mumford Traylor.

A visitation with family and friends will be held on Sunday, December 18 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 19 at 11:00 a.m. at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Memorial gifts may be given to support United Methodist Disaster Relief at Edenton Street UMC, or to Neuse River Valley Model Railroad Club, P.O. Box 19573 Raleigh, NC 27619.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.BrownWynne.com