1948
Raymond
2020
Raymond M. Woolley, Jr.
March 22, 1948 — September 3, 2020
Ray was born March 22, 1948 in Seattle, WA and was then adopted by Raymond M. Woolley Sr. and Bonnie Woolley. He was raised in Seattle and then in San Jose, CA . He graduated Overfelt High School in San Jose in 1966 before enlisting in the U.S. Navy the same year.
Ray, even as a little boy, dreamt of joining the Navy and traveling to far off and exotic places, which the Navy provided many times over. Ray was first a Gunners Mate Second Class, leaving the Navy to return to San Jose Community College for two years before reenlisting, this time as a Sonar Technician. During his career, he was stationed onboard USS Worden (DLG 18), USS Kirk (FF 1007), Naval Ship Repair Facility, Yokosuka, JA and retiring onboard the USS Truxtun (CGN 35) as a STGC (E-7) on January 31, 1990.
Ray loved being at sea. He was in awe of the power of the sea and mother nature, often times going above deck to watch the storms and the beautiful sunsets. He always claimed to be able to go up and down the ladders with his coffee cup in hand and not spill a single drop. After retirement, without those famous sea legs, his coffee usually ended up on the front of his shirt.
Ray went to work for the U.S. Postal Service as an Electronic Technician in 1991 in San Diego, CA before transferring to the Terre Haute Postal Facility in 1998. Ray loved his job and his co-workers. He was a fixer and loved the challenge of fixing downed equipment in a given amount of time. Ray retired after 20 years in 2011.
Ray married Elaine West, the "best thing that ever happened to him"(his words, not hers) on February 14, 1985 at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, JA and in again in church on February the 23rd at Yokosuka Naval Base. When Elaine first saw him from a distance, it was "ohh la la". They were amazed that their high school years were only spent 7 miles apart, he in San Jose and she in Milpitas. They had both enlisted in the Navy in San Jose, CA. As fate would have it, they finally met in the on-base exercise class, where they became stretching partners. Ten months later, Ray took Elaine on a vacation to Bangkok, Thailand, where he proposed, before heading to Hong Kong for the ring and back to Yokosuka. Thirty-five years later the love story continued. Together they made a wonderful team.
Ray is survived by his family, his wife, Elaine, sisters-in-law, Carol Willis (Doug), Kathy Westfall (Curt), brother-in-law, Mike West. Also surviving are his favorite cats, O.J. (The Juice), Lucy and Tommy. Ray loved his entire family. When God made him, he had but one mold, and he created Ray.
His family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses, on the forth floor and ICU, at Union Hospital who cared for him.
Memorial Services will be conducted at 3:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2020 in Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street, with Dr. Vince McFarland officiating. Visitation is scheduled prior to services on Saturday from 2:00-3:00 PM. Cremation has been chosen. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Ouabache Feline Rescue, 7300 East Devonald Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47805. Funeral information and tributes may also be found at www.callahanandhughes.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond M. Woolley, Jr., please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Saturday, September 12, 2020
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Eastern time)
Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home
Memorial Services
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Starts at 3:00 pm (Eastern time)
Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home
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