Ray was a veteran of WWII in the US Army Air Corps. He received the Air Medal with 3 bronze clusters; the American Theater Medal; the European-African-Meddle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze campaign stars for Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns; the Victory Medal; and the Good Conduct Medal.

Ray is survived by: wife Dorothy of 57 years; son Alan Roden & wife Michelle of Victoria; 2-daughters, Cheryl Roden of Victoria, and Alicia Cox of Victoria; and 2-grandchildren, Alan Roden and Madeline Cox.

Ray was preceded in death by: granddaughter Natalie Cox; parents Thomas J. & Johnnie McElroy Roden; and sister Sybil Zeller.

Service: 2 pm, Saturday, April 7, 2007 at Kubena Funeral Home. Visitation: 5 pm, Friday at Kubena Funeral Home. Officiate: Rev. Mike Singestreu. Pallbearers: Earl Roden Zeller, Ty Zeller, Joshua Zeller, Benjamin Zeller, Arron Zeller, and Micky Roden. Burial: Hallettsville City Cemetery. Memorials: Charity of Your Choice.