Ray Aldrich

Biography

Ray E. Aldrich, 88, peacefully passed away from this life at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook after a long battle with Parkinson's. Ray was born January 31, 1921 on a farm north of Cambridge, NE, to Albert and Mabel (Harmon) Aldrich. Later the family moved to a farm north of Arapahoe. He went to a country school, riding a Shetland pony to school each day. After graduating from Arapahoe High school, he went into the Civilian Conservation Corps at Beaver City, NE, helping to build dams to provide irrigation water for farmers.

In 1942, he enlisted in the US Navy and was sent to Great Lakes, IL, for training. He served as a medical corpsman until being accepted for the Navy commissioning program. He attended Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO, to earn a degree in engineering and his commission as a USN Ensign. Ray came home on a three-day leave to marry his High School sweetheart, Gladys Fleharty, in Edison, NE, and they left the following day for Norfolk, VA. They spent time in Virginia and Mississippi while he was on duty patrolling the Atlantic Coast on various destroyers seeking enemy submarines, during which time he earned the rank of Lieutenant. After his discharge in 1946, Ray went into the Reserves and served two weeks of duty each year, finally retiring from the Reserves after 20 years of military service. Ray and Gladys returned to Arapahoe, NE, and he started to work for the Bureau of Reclamation. Later the family moved to McCook and Ray spent 35 years with the Bureau before retiring.

Ray and Gladys loved to travel. They bought a motor home and visited all 50 states. They also went to Europe twice and took a Caribbean Cruise. His favorite hobbies were growing roses and attending Nebraska football games. Ray was member of the Methodist Church for over 50 years and taught a Sunday school class for many years. He was a member of the Masons and had been head of all York Rite Bodies of McCook, was a Past President of Tehama Western Shrine Club, and belonged to K.Y.C.H., Red Cross of Constantine, and Eastern Star.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Gladys, his companion for over 63 years. Also left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Sherry Wegener, and her husband Ron of Klamath Falls, OR, and daughter, Colonel Linda Aldrich-Rodriguez and her husband, Felipe, of Longmont, CO. Also he has four granddaughters, Sheron and husband Dan, Mulino, OR; Renee, Klamath Fall, OR; Sheila and husband Matt, Eugene, OR; and Ashley and husband Rob of O'Fallon, IL., and one grandson, Steve and wife Mary of Falls Church, VA. Also, he has ten great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, and will be dearly missed by his family.

Memorials were to be sent to First United Methodist Church, McCook, NE, or to Parkinson's Research charities.

Funeral services were Friday, May 1, 2009, 2:00 p.m. at Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Jeff Thurman officiating. Burial took place in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.