He was one of two children born to Bennett P. Wray and Nona Boatman Wray, in Sayre on March 23, 1923. He graduated from Crane High School in Crane, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at El Paso on a football scholarship before enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1942. He entered Naval flight training in 1944 and later served in the Pacific theater during World War II. Following his release from active duty at the end of World War II, he attended Texas A&M University where he graduated as a Distinguished Military Student, receiving his commission in the United States Air Force and graduated with honors in 1949, having received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and wildlife management.
At the age of 16, he attained scouting’s highest award as an “Eagle Scout” and later attended Boy Scouts of America Professional Training School in Mendham, New Jersey, in summer of 1949 and became certified as a professional scouter assigned to the Altus area. He then began the organizing of Boy Scout troops throughout Southwest Oklahoma and continued on as the coordinator of the scouting programs throughout the scouting district, including serving on the Kickingbird District Council. In addition, he served as scoutmaster for the First United Methodist Church for many years.
On Jan. 5, 1952, he married Mary Ann Humphreys at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. That same year Dr. Wray was recalled to active duty service in the United States Air Force to serve in the Korean War and was attached to the U.S. Army 443 Engineering Corp. at Kunsan, Korea. After his release from active duty in Korea, Dr. Wray became employed as a regional biologist for the State of Oklahoma in Wagner.
In 1953, he was admitted to the University of Houston College of Optometry in Houston, Texas, where he graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree in 1956. Dr. Wray served on the Dean’s Selection Committee at the University of Houston and was a member of the Oklahoma Optometric Association. Upon graduation from optometry school he returned to Altus where he established his optometric practice that continued until his retirement at the age of 75.
Dr. Wray was a past president of the Altus Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Altus Kiwanis Club, Altus Golf & Country Club and was member of the Altus Schools Board of Education for 13 years, having served as president prior to his retirement from the Board in 1989. Dr. Wray also served as chairman of the Altus Metropolitan Planning Commission at its inception, was a member of the Altus Airport Advisory board for many years and also served as a member of the Jackson County Trust Authority. In 1977, and again in 1989, he was given and received the Distinguished Citizen Award by 443 Headquarters Altus AFB Command. He was a well-known lay speaker at area churches throughout his life and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Altus.
He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed a lifetime of golfing, hunting, fishing, snow skiing, and most of all his time spent with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bennett Wray and Nona Wray; and his sister, Leona Lackey.
He is survived by his wife Mary Ann Wray of Altus; a son, Chris Wray and his wife Robin Wray, also of Altus; a daughter, Alyson Geister and her husband Dr. Brian Geister of Oklahoma City; and a son, Steve Wray and his wife Sheri Wray of Findlay, Ohio; six grandsons, Christopher Wray, Bennett Geister, Brandon Geister, Nicholas Geister, Preston Wray and Ryan Wray; and two granddaughters, Kelsey Wray and Elizabeth Wray; and a nephew, K.D. Lackey and his wife Barbara Lackey of Oklahoma City.
Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 502, Altus, OK, 73521.
A “Celebration of Life” ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Altus, under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral home.
On line tributes may be made to the family at www.Lowell-Tims.com
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