April 19, 1930 – May 2, 2025
Ray Edward Albright passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of May 2, 2025, in Webster, TX. He was 95 years old and surrounded by friends and family at the time. Ray was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Louis Albright, mother, Ethyl Janet Albright (Chalus), and beloved wife of 67 years, Virginia Ann Albright (Colston). He is survived by his son, John David Albright, and two grandsons, Andrew Harrison Albright (wife Spencer) and Evan Charles Albright (wife Katy). Other living relatives include nephew-in-law Mikel Henry Alpers (wife Michelle, daughter Libby) and niece-in-law Peggy Rae Alpers (husband Chuck, sons Nicholas and Nathan).
Ray was born on April 19, 1930, in Cedar Falls, IA during the Great Depression. Upon graduation from Waterloo West high school, where he competed on the track and rifle teams, he served in the United States Marine Corps. (USMC) from 1948 to 1952 and fought in the Korean War, attaining the rank of Sargeant and winning multiple awards for his service. During that period, he spent time on the USS Valley Forge and USS Boxer aircraft carriers, among other ships, where he developed a love of military airplanes, particularly the North American P-51 Mustang and Vought F4U Corsair which were his personal favorites.
After completing his service with the USMC, Ray returned to Cedar Falls, IA where he met and married the love of his life, Virginia, in Vinton, IA in January 1953. Following the completion of his undergraduate degree in education at the Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in 1956, the couple moved to Knoxville, IA where Ray taught at Knoxville High School and completed graduate studies in education at Drake University, while Virginia worked as an executive assistant to a senior vice president at Maytag.
After moving to Bettendorf, IA in 1966, Ray taught at several schools in Davenport, IA and began a new job at International Harvester (IH) in East Moline, IL, building combines and other farm equipment. In February 1967, he became a father after Virgina gave birth to son John. At that point, he continued working full-time at IH and served as a frequent substitute teacher in the Davenport, Pleasant Valley, and Bettendorf school districts, until his retirement from IH in 1984. Ray spent the last 16 years of his career working in the area of manufacturing, acquisition, and supply chain management as a civilian employee for the U.S. Army Munitions and Chemical Command (AMCCOM) at the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, IL, retiring for a second time in 2002. As he always said, he liked retirement so much that he did it twice.
Throughout his time living and working in the Quad Cities, Ray developed many close relationships with friends, family, and neighbors. He also spent a significant amount of time working on the family home, making pencil sketches, woodworking, reading, working out, ice skating, snow skiing, walking the dog (Kuma, a Siberian Husky), and taking various trips with Virginia. In addition, Ray felt called to volunteer his time and resources helping fellow veterans, at-risk children, and the community as a whole via the Marine Corps. League, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and St. Peters Episcopal Church in Bettendorf, IA. He also watched and attended many sporting events involving the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, where John studied mechanical engineering and played on the men’s tennis team.
In their final phase of life, Ray and Virginia moved to Friendswood, TX in 2008 to be near John, who was working as a NASA engineer at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, and their two grandsons, Andrew and Evan, who were in intermediate and elementary school, respectively, at the time. They both felt blessed to live so close to family, hosting the boys at their house after school for snacks and homework, and attending countless academic, music, and athletic events through their high school years. Following Virginia’s death in May 2020, Ray continued his independent life at two senior living communities in Friendswood until he passed.
Throughout his fulfilling life, Ray modeled the work ethic and commitment to education, career, fitness, generosity, and family that became central to the lives of John, Andrew, and Evan. As the provider for his small family, he was tough but kind, serious but funny, structured but artistic, theoretical but practical, and happy with who he was, what he had, and where he came from. Of course, his influence on the lives of others was immeasurable.
At the time of Ray’s passing, the Lord welcomed him into heaven where he was reunited with Virginia, his parents, other family members, and many recent and lifelong friends. His spirit will remain with everyone he touched on Earth.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 1207 Winding Way, Friendswood, TX 77546 with The Rev. Justin Briggle officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Ray Edward Albright can be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Disabled American Veterans, Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, and/or Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.
