Manuel Ray

Manuel Carlos Ray, 89, of Great Falls, a retired chemist and U.S. Army Air Corps veteran, died of natural causes Sunday, March 25, at a local nursing home.A memorial reception has taken place. Schnider Funeral Home handled arrangements.Manuel was born Jan. 3, 1923, in Newark, N.J. He joined the Army Air Corps in November 1942, and attained the rank of staff sergeant. He was a gunner on a B17, and successfully flew 18 missions. He was shot down on his 19th mission, while flying over the English Channel. The only survivors of his last mission were Manuel and the pilot. Manuel served in the Army until October 1945. He married A. Linda Ray on Sept. 14, 1947. Manuel attended the University of Southern California, where he obtained a B.S. degree in chemistry. Manuel initially worked as a chemist for PPG. He then worked as a chemist in product develop-ment for National Research and Chemical Company. He traveled extensively around the globe for this company. He accumulated more than 1 million miles with United Airlines. He started his own company (ROK Industries) in 1972. He sold chemical products and his expertise to Rockwell Int., Hughes Corp., Intel, Motorola and many others. He sold the company in the late 1980s, to ChemTech Corporation.In his earlier years, Manuel enjoyed deep-sea fishing and playing handball. He loved the USC Trojans football team; he followed them every season.Manuel is survived by his wife of more than 64 years, A. Linda (DaCunha) Ray of Great Falls; daughters Barbara L. Ray Wentworth of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Deborah Ray Malheiro of Alta, Wyo.; sons Ronald G. Ray of Great Falls, and Robert P. Ray of Brighton, England; and four grandchildren.